Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii), Zeniff Rd./State Route 377 intersection northeast of Heber, Navajo County

This Cassin's Sparrow was discovered and photographed by Eric Hough on 01 July 2011

Probable first record for Navajo County. This individual was observed singing on territory on July 1 and 4, and one silent individual found just south of this location later in the season on August 20. Eleven other individuals were found on nearby stretches of Duck Lake Rd. and State Route 377 in the same valley on July 14, all giving skylarking performances while singing which definitely suggested local breeding this summer.

While a breeder in southeastern and central Arizona, very rare elsewhere in the state as a breeder or migrant. The Atlas surveys found local breeding in eastern Arizona near St. Johns in Apache County and there is one record from 2008 at Garland Prairie in Coconino County. This summer an unprecedented invasion of Cassin's Sparrows was observed starting in Navajo County followed by observations near Peach Springs (Mohave County)and in nearby Coconino and Yavapai Counties, along with several individuals northeast of Sunrise Lake.

Sparrow with rounded head, dark lateral throat-stripe, short bill, finely streaked crown, faint discontinuous eye-line, scalloped and rufous speckled pattern on mantle and greater coverts. This bird was displaying skylarking behavior while singing.

01 July 2011, photo by Eric Hough