Dennis wrote:

> A really obvious walk points away from any emberizine bunting (including our
> North American sparrows) except for longspurs and Snow/McKay's (or is it
> MacKay's?).

I recently bought "Audubon to Xantus:..." the biographies of people who have
had north American birds named after them. I must check up to see whether the
person who the bunting is named after was a Scot. If so then I must petition
the AOU to get it changed to the correct version, namely MacKay.

While not being a lister, this is one species I definitely have to see before
I shrug off this mortal coil.

Thinking aobut this more. I would tend to exclude reed bunting based on the
apparent crown stripe and "conspicuous caramel or pale ochre wash over lores",
though female reed's do have the "Cheek patch bordered above and below by
creamy stripes". I would also reject little bunting for the same reasons
though the check patch should be more rust coloured, if my memory serves me
well.

Rustic, I don't recall much detail. However there are more records for this
species along the Pacific coast.

Pallas's reed bunting, hmmm. I suppose there a couple of other species it
could be, no idea what they might be though.

Back to the walking thing. If it clearly walked then it must be longspur. If
it was short hops, which are still pretty obvious then a bunting it must be.
By the plumage described it certainly sounds like a bunting - well it fits the
general description.

Jack, next time make sure you find a male !!!!!!


Stuart - ace idle speculator
---
#import "StandardDisclaimer.h";

Stuart MacKay AT&T Wireless Services
Consultant Developer Oakhurst Building
Axys V4 14335 NE 24th St.
ph. (206) 702-5151 Bellevue, WA
fax (206) 702-5451 98007

stuart.mackay at mccaw.com
__________________________________________________________