Cassin's Sparrow (Aimophila cassinii), Garland Prairie, Coconino County

This Cassin's Sparrow was found by Tom Linda on 13 July 2008 at Garland Prairie in Coconino County.  It was photographed by Brooks Hart on 16 July 2008.  There are no previous documented records of Cassin's Sparrow for the county.  The bird was found singing (used to help I.D.) and displaying enthusiastically on both occasions within a fenced meadow in the northeast corner of the intersection of Garland Prairie Rd and Dog Haven Rd.

Cassin's Sparrow is rare outside of eastern Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties in Arizona but may be expanding its range.  See recent article here.

Characters that separate this bird from the similar Botteri's Sparrow (not all visible in photographs, but noted by observers):  rounded head, dark lateral throat-stripe, short bill, fine streaks and spots on breast, streaks on flank, finely streaked crown, faint discontinuous eye-line and rufous speckled pattern on mantle.

16 July 2008, photos by Brooks Hart