Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii ), Rousseau Sod Farms, Maricopa County

This Sprague_s Pipit was found on 7 November 2010 by Tommy DeBardeleben and photographed by David Vander Pluym on 10 November 2010.

Rare migrant and winter visitor to Maricopa County with few recent records. Declining everywhere and is now a Candidate Species under the Endangered Species Act.  Basically Candidate Species are those species that qualify for Endangered Species protection but for which the FWS has not had time or funding to prepare formal documentation. 

Pale legs, streaked back, blank and "wide eyed" facial expression with buffy auriculars separate this species from the common American Pipit.

10 November 2010, photo by David Vander Pluym