We didn't get super close looks at the Sandy Point horned larks. We did get
great looks on Sunday at 7 horned larks at Lummi flats, which fed on the
trail 6 feet from us. They were similarly pale and washed out birds, but in
full sun and that close, around half of them had a very obvious pink wash in
the shoulder region, if that helps narrow it down in any way. But I
understand that, like gulls, there are issues with intermediates as well as
the sheer number of subspecies when it comes to horned larks.



Louise Rutter

Kirkland



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Wayne Weber
Sent: 26 September 2017 21:05
To: TWEETERS <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] did anyone figure out the subspecies of the Horned
Larks at Sandy Pt. in Whatcom County?



Tweeters,



I would caution anyone who tries to answer Ed's question that there are 21
subspecies of Horned Lark in North America, several of which are possible in
our area. This is one of the most variable of all species of North American
birds.



The one Horned Lark which my group saw at Sandy Point on Saturday was so
dull and washed-out that it would be very tough to assign to subspecies.
However, I think it is safe to say that it was not the local breeding
subspecies strigata, which is one of the more colourful subspecies, but
which to my knowledge has never been recorded at Sandy Point, at least not
for decades.



Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

Contopus at telus.net <mailto:Contopus at telus.net>







From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
<mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu>
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Ed Swan
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 4:13 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu <mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu> ;
whatcombirds at lists.wwu.edu <mailto:whatcombirds at lists.wwu.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] did anyone figure out the subspecies of the Horned Larks
at Sandy Pt. in Whatcom County?



I was wondering if anyone had opinions on the subspecies of the Horned Larks
that were with the Lapland Longspurs at Sandy Point last weekend?



Ed

Ed Swan

Nature writer and guide

edswan2 at comcast.net <mailto:edswan2 at comcast.net>

206.949.3545

www.theswancompany.com <http://www.theswancompany.com>