McCown's Longspur (Calcarius mccownii), Rousseau Sod Farm, Maricopa County

This McCown's Longspur was discovered and photographed by James McKay on 06 November 2010.

This species has been decreasing in Arizona. Irregularly found in decreasing numbers in large flocks of Chestnut-collarded Longspurs in the Sulfur Springs and San Rafael Valleys of SE Arizona, it is casual elsewhere. These is only one record mentioned in Witzeman et al. (1996) for Maricopa County from 1979. However, the Rousseau sod farms were discovered by birders in 2000 and there have been reports of small numbers of McCown's (up to 15 birds) at this location at least from 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2009. This site is underbirded and more may go undetected.  It is therefore possible that the species is annual there.

A large-headed, plain-faced, pink billed longspur with a smudgy breast band.

06 November 2010, photo by James McKay

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