To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
From: Jack Bowling <jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca>
Subject: Re. Lincoln's Sparrows


Great discussion on Lincoln's Sparrows ongoing started by Kelly -

Steppie had asked about the banding stats from the Sea I. Banding Site in the
fall of 1995. Here is a summary grabbed from my input to Audubon Field
Notes. The Lincoln's passage is enclosed in triple asterisks:

" From its startup Aug. 3 until the nets were pulled down in October (1995), a
total of 3221 birds of 41 species were captured. Of note were Greater
Vancouver's first three *Magnolia Warblers*, and two *Clay-colored Sparrows*,
listed as accidental for the checklist area. It is hard to jibe the "discovery"
of the Magnolias with its summer range across the n.e. half of the B.C.; it is
more likely that they had been passing through undetected in small numbers
previous to the nets going up, possibly at night. *** The 489 Lincoln's Sparrows
were an eye-opener - I doubt anyone would have picked it to be the most
frequently caught species before the project started. *** Next most numerous
were Song Sparrow (463), White-crowned Sparrow (369), and Orange-crowned Warbler
(355). Interesting to note that of the 343 "Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrows
captured, 95% were immatures! "

Dennis's commnets are spot on. I would also agree with Michael P.'s comments
re. Lincoln's being more buffy in the fall than during the breeding season.
The buffy wash on some summer birds can be very pale. However, he would
not have had to go 1000 km south from Donna Cr., B.C. to find House Wrens
since they are a fairly common bird in the eastern Peace Country of n.e.
B.C., 350 km to the east.

Chris Maack's comments re. apparent mimicry by Lincoln's Sparrows is right on.
This species has been documented producing estimable reproductions of various
species on its breeding grounds including Swainson's Thrush, White-throated
Sparrow, and MacGillivray's Warbler in addition to Song Sparrow. It is also
one of the many birds which produce a "jumble" song in the fall - a rambling,
prolonged soliloquoy combining snatches of its own song with random samplings
of anything else it can think of. This is usually delivered at a softer volume
than the primary song. It is really too bad that many observers only know the
virtually noiceless Lincoln's of its wintering grounds. It is very much a
songster on its breeding grounds and a much-loved part of my summers the past 12
years.

- Jack


Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca

Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
Canada
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca