On Wed, 13 Apr 1994, Jerry Tangren wrote:

> Can someone post some specifics on the Timberline Sparrow as to the
> presently known range? I might have missed them, but I have a feeling
> there is a real misconception among some of us as to the known range
> and habitat. As Gene (I believe) commented in an earlier post, it's
> possible to go from timberless-Transition to the Alpine with almost
> nothing in between in many places in the western United States.
>
> From: Jerry Tangren, Wenatchee WA
> <gsw$en at wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu>

I'd have to check the 1957 AOU checklist to be sure, but I've always
thought of taverneri as a truly Canadian bird, breeding from the southern
Canadian Rockies north to southwestern Yukon. It certainly migrates
through eastern Washington, but as I said earlier, it would be tough to
pick out of all the breweri. It breeds in fairly moist willow subalpine
habitats, and I think the mountains of the US west, particularly those
where grassland/shrub-steppe habitats go right up to treeline, would be
too dry for it. But that's sheer specualation on my part.

Richard J. Cannings cannings at bcu.ubc.ca
Cowan Vertebrate Museum vertmus at bcu.ubc.ca
Department of Zoology, (604)822-4665
University of British Columbia (604)822-2416 (FAX)
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 CANADA