Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Lark Bunting
Scientific name:	[Calamospiza melanocorys]
Date:	1/12/24
Time:	~4pm
Length of time observed:	3 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	unknown
Sex:	female type?
Location:	Floratech Rd/3700 W, north of Dixie Springs near Sand Hollow State Park.
County:	Washington
Latilong:	Approx 37.140028, -113.373826
Elevation:	~2800 ft
Distance to bird:	~10 to 40 yards
Optical equipment:	Swarovski 42x8.5
Weather:	Clear/partial high overcast, calm winds, 50s
Light Conditions:	Late-day sunshine from my right side, shining directly on the birds to my left -- excellent viewing.
Description: Size of bird:	Sparrow-size, slightly larger than White-crown. See additional comments, below.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Sparrow
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark above (brown/black), pale below with streaks.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Heavy, somewhat stubby/stout/conical
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Obvious sparrow-type, sparrow-size. Some distinctively oversized /exaggerated field marks: (1) heavy, stout/conical bill; (2) thick/conspicuous/contrasty lateral throat stripe; (3) conspicuously long and thick whitish wing bar (tinted buffy); (4) white at tip of tail in flight. Additional details I can t remember clearly at this point in time, but I think I noted (mentally) the impression of a well-marked, contrasty head/face pattern that also caught my eye, including the eyeline extending back toward the ear. I also recall the impression of dark at the bill-base. See additional comments, below.
Song or call & method of delivery:	Silent
Behavior:	Feeding on the ground and then flushing up to the fence wire, associating with a sizable mixed flock of mostly White-crowned Sparrows, some House Sparrows and a few female Red-winged Blackbirds.
Habitat:	Tall but long-dead and partially depressed grasses along a fence line at the edge of a turf field.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	- White-crowned Sparrow: Side-by-side comparison, separated by the four field marks above, plus slightly larger size. - House Sparrow: Ditto. Different facial/head markings; different structure; lacks the oversized wingbar, heavy bill, streaking below. - Female Red-wing Blackbird: Ditto, plus smaller size - Lark Sparrow: Both have strong facial markings and white in the tail; but lacks the oversized wingbar, heavy bill, streaking below. - Ditto for House Finch, Savannah, Vesper, Song, Fox Sparrows, etc. (I suppose you could throw Dickcissel and Blue Grosbeak in the mix?)
Previous experience with this & similar species:	This was my first encounter with this species except perhaps drive-by sightings during road trips in high school, and maybe a winter sighting in SE AZ in Jan 97 that I barely remember. The others species (above) are very-to-moderately familiar.
References consulted:
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Paul Hicks
Observer's address:	1630 E 2450 So #26, St George 84790
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	none
Date prepared:	6.07.24
Additional material:	No_additional_Materials
Additional comments:	This bird was nowhere on my radar beforehand, a total surprise. As soon as I confirmed it with Sibleys I reported this sighting to the local rare bird text group at 4:07pm. That s when/how I first heard about Mike Schijf s earlier sighting in Enterprise. This is the email exchange that evening and next day with Alex Harper, education chair and scientist for Vegas Audubon--based almost entirely on the original text message report: On Fri, Jan 12, 2024 at 7:25 PM Paul Hicks <paulhicks7373@gmail.com> wrote: Stumbled across a Lark Bunting this afternoon. ---------- On Sat, Jan 13, 2024 at 9:38 AM Alex Harper <alexharper@redrockaudubon.com> wrote: Hey Paul, Where did you find the bunting? Great find! ---------- From: Paul Hicks <paulhicks7373@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Jan 13, 2024 at 11:09 AM Subject: Re: FYI To: Alex Harper <alexharper@redrockaudubon.com> Hi Alex, Along Floratech Rd in the vicinity of Sand Hollow State Park and Dixie Springs. Southbound past the double 90 degree turns and the orchard, along the left-side fenceline about halfway down the turf farm. It was with a sizable flock of mainly white crowns but House Sparrows and blackbirds were in the mix, too. (I couldn't resist stopping to check them out.) Lots of traffic at 4pm to flush them all, but I got a good look of a female type: heavy/stout conical bill, thick blackish lateral throat stripe with impression of black around base of bill, unusually broad and long wingbar tinted buffy, and white tail tips in flight. Smaller than female redwing, and impression was larger than white-crown -- maybe 'cuz I was so locked on and the wingbar loomed large. [Note: I noticed in Mike Schijf s pics the bunting appears larger than the adjacent white-crown.] One was reported recently near Enterprise which is considerably higher and almost an hour away. Paul