>Tweeters,
>
>I am hoping for some enlightenment on the what, when, and where of Lincoln's
>Sparrows in western Washington. The field guide write-ups tell me a little
>but I would like a little more detail. What habitat are they most often
>found in? What locations are good for seeing the species? What months find
>them in Washington?

Common migrant, especially in April and September but smaller numbers in
May, August, and October, throughout western WA lowlands. Much smaller
numbers winter widely. Occurs primarily in shrub thickets but often feeds
in open; immediately retreats to thickets when disturbed. It breeds in
shrubby montane wetlands.

>I know I have seen mention of Lincoln's Sparrows in a number of late
>summer/early fall (?)bird lists but I have forgotten the details. I seem to
>remember seeing mention of their being abundant in the tall grass on the
>Nisqually delta, perhaps in October. Does this make sense?

Yes. They are very common at Nisqually in September and well into October.

>Is it fairly easy to mistake one for a song sparrow?

I don't think so. They are considerably smaller and paler than our
resident Song Sparrows (although much more like an eastern Song Sparrow).
When you come upon a feeding group of sparrows, and they fly back up into
the shrubbery, the very dark ones are Song Sparrows, usually in small
numbers (as they're rather territorial). The big, not-so-dark, long-tailed
ones, often in flocks, are "crowned" sparrows, both Golden-crowned (a
centimeter or two longer than White-crowned, I can pick them out by size
when they're together) and White-crowned. The small, paler ones are
Lincoln's Sparrows. You can also find Savannah Sparrows mixed with them,
but they never dive into the thickets. They either fly out into the
grassland or, sometimes, land up in the trees. They are about the size of
Lincoln's and more or less the same shade, but shorter tailed.

The mostly gray head and finely streaked buffy breast of the Lincoln's from
"front" view are unduplicated in any other sparrow. The back view is like
a small, considerably paler Song Sparrow.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416