Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Cassin's Sparrow
Scientific name:	Peucaea cassinii
Date:	05/11/2024
Time:	9:45 AM
Length of time observed:	Roughly 45 seconds
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:
Location:	The Prove River Delta
County:	Utah county
Latilong:	40.24577° N, 111.72446° W
Elevation:	4,489
Distance to bird:	Roughly 15 yards
Optical equipment:	Vortex Diamondback, and Nikon D500 with 500mm lense
Weather:	Clear skies, 60°, no wind.
Light Conditions:	Clear skies, full sun.
Description: Size of bird:	Roughly Song sparrow sized.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Sparrow shaped, with a medium short tail. Forehead steep down to a medium bill.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Very grayish. Aside from a slight yellow lore and rusty brown speckling.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Medium sized bull for a sparrow.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Very grey overall. Some photos will show some slight tan/yellow in the lores, which we all noted in the field while trying to ID. Round Forehead shape coming down to a medium sized pointy bill. Dark speckling on the back, somewhat pink legs, a faint brownish gray eyeline, faint white/grey eye ring, and faint brown crown. Aside from the dark speckling, this bird didn t have any sharp plumage features. Very drab and pale, I believe this was a gray adult Cassin s (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	This bird never made a sound while we were observing it.
Behavior:	Very low and skulky. Eventually away flew low into tall grassy fields.
Habitat:	Dry grassy fields around the provo river delta. It was seen near the waters edge.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Brewers sparrow; I initially thought it was a brewers sparrow, but quickly noticed it didn t have the facial pattern. It lacked any mustache, the bill was larger, the slight tan/yellow in the lores, and the dark back speckling all ruled out brewers for me Grasshopper sparrow; Another bird that was considered before reporting. The head shape rules out grasshopper sparrow for me. It had a steep forehead going down to a pointy medium bill, where a grasshopper sparrow would show a rounded forehead more inline with the bill. This bird also did not have the coloration of a grasshopper. It didn t show any yellow/orange/buffy coloration on its sides, face, and lacked any rusty/red coloration in the back. It also didn t have any bold contrast from the face to the crown, or any of the more bold facial markings like a grasshopper sparrow. All this ruled out grasshopper sparrow to me.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	This would be my first experience with a Cassin's sparrow.
References consulted:	Kameron C, Kendall Watkins, Quinn Diaz, Bryant Olsen, Max Malmquist. From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	McKay Olson
Observer's address:	Pleasant grove, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Jeff Cooper, Esther Sumner, KC Child s, Natalie Tanner, and Keeli Marvel.
Date prepared:	05/14/2024
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Thanks all!