Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-39
| Common name: |
Lark Bunting |
| Scientific name: | Calamospiza melanocorys |
| Date: | 28 May 2026 |
| Time: | 10:23 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 6 minutes, 5 minutes and 2 minutes |
| Number: | 3 |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | femail/immature male |
| Location: | West 1400 South Fields |
| County: | Cache |
| Latilong: | 41�'25.96"N 111�'24.32"W |
| Elevation: | 4429 Ft |
| Distance to bird: | 30', 25', 125' |
| Optical equipment: | Canon PowerShot SX610 HS, Vortex 10X50, Nikon 10X42 |
| Weather: | Clear, slight breeze, |
| Light Conditions: | Full Daylight |
| Description: Size of bird: | approx 7" |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Stocky, large headed, with large bill, and short tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | light breast, with steaks, grays and browns |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Large |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
White tips on tail, bold lateral throat-stripe, broad white edges on
greater coverts, partial white eyering (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | not calling |
| Behavior: | feeding in grass on ground out of sight and occationally perching on fence wires and posts. |
| Habitat: | Large grassy field |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
We observed no similar species. Possible similar Speacies: Chesnut-collared longspur, lacks the white wing edges, has a smaller bill and lacks the white and black mustache stripe. Thick-billed longspur: Long spurs have smaller bills than the Lark Bunting. Also lacks white wing edges. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have not previously observed the Lark Bunting, but have often observed the Lark Sparrow and some similar sparrows. |
| References consulted: | SIBLY BIRDS, SECOND EDITION |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Don Allred |
| Observer's address: | 6768 Larabrook Way, West Jordan, UT 84084 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Joel Holtrop |
| Date prepared: | 2 July 2026 |
| Additional material: | Photos - 3 photos of Lark Bunting |
| Additional comments: |
Joel Holtrop and I travelled to the site together and worked together to
identify the Lark Bunting and other birds listed. We also worked together to
prepare this report. |