MOURC Proceedings Archive for The Loon

	MOURC Proceedings Archive - Towhees, Sparrows	Accepted Duplicates
	This is the 1981 to present Records Committee Proceedings archive for The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. The last 2 years are available to MOU members.

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Towhees, Sparrows
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Proceedings

Species: Towhees, Sparrows

Cassin's Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Chipping Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow
[Black-chinned Sparrow]
Brewer's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Baird's Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Abert's Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee

	Ref	First	Last	Location	County	Comment	Status
Chipping Sparrow (R) (Spizella passerina)						Start Date 1936-01-01
	avian information	1973-12-15			Lac qui Parle	12/15 Lac qui Parle (first winter record)
	avian information	1975-12-06			Olmsted	12/6 Olmsted (first winter record) one found dead in Rochester on 12-6 (VH); first December date on record; some Christmas Counts continue to report this species with no details.
	avian information	1975-12-20			Clay	12/20 Clay (first winter record) one found dead in Rochester on 12-6 (VH); first December date on record; some Christmas Counts continue to report this species with no details.
	avian information	1979-12-01	1980-02-28		Mower	winter Mower (first winter record)
	avian information	1980-01-01			Cottonwood	1/1 Cottonwood (first winter record)
	avian information	1980-12-21			Lyon	12/21 Lyon (first winter record) Overwintered in Crosby, Crow Wing County (TS). Also reported on the Cottonwood and St. Paul CBC's.
	avian information	1981-01-01	1981-02-31		Crow Wing	1/1-2/31 Crow Wing (first winter record) Overwintered in Crosby, Crow Wing County (TS). Also reported on the Cottonwood and St. Paul CBC's.
	6:15	1934	index			The Chipping Sparrow that Raised Robins
	48:77	1976	index			A Late Record for the Chipping Sparrow
	49:51	1977	index			Winter Record for a Chipping Sparrow
	51:100	1979	index			Minnesota's First Overwintering Chipping Sparrow
1	54:147	1982-02-27	1982-02-28	Golden Valley	Hennepin	(vote 6-1)	Accepted
	avian information	1989-12-16			Kandiyohi	12/16 Kandiyohi (first winter record)
	avian information	1992-02-16	1992-02-22		Aitkin	2/16-22 Aitkin (first winter record) Reported in Aitkin 2/16–22 HL, et al., and in Ramsey at the Cunningham feeder until early January.
	avian information	1994-12-09			Cook	12/9 Cook (first winter record) Two reports of this species even though accidental in winter: one seen until 12/9 Cook KMH (details provided), and another probably overwintered since reported 1/2–2/7 at Nicollet Island, Hennepin Co. JD et al. Approximately nine previous winter records, only two of which overwintered.
2	68:164	1995-12-04		Hoyt Lakes	St. Louis		Accepted
3	69:152	1995-12-04		Hoyt Lakes	St. Louis	(reconsidered record #96–30, vote 2–5). The majority of the Committee had originally accepted this record, primarily because it had been seen by experienced observers and since it had been present at a feeder for several weeks previously. However, the Committee reconsidered the record and decided to reverse its earlier vote when it was pointed out that a Chipping Sparrow in December would not normally appear as described. The documentation includes mention of a “solid rusty cap with distinct white line below it”; however, fall and winter Chipping Sparrows have streaked brownish crowns that should not appear Kim R. Eckert, MORC Chairman as “solid rusty”, and at that time of year their supercilia are no longer white.	Accepted
4	73:168	1995-12-04		Hoyt Lakes	St. Louis	(record #9630, vote 6–1). This record was originally then reconsidered and found Unacceptable (The Loon 69:151–152). It was again reconsidered and discussed at the April 2001 meeting of this Committee, however, a new vote was taken, and now this is once again considered an acceptable record.	Accepted
	avian information	1995-12-04			St. Louis	12/4 St. Louis (first winter record) Reported on 12/4 at Hoyt Lakes, St. Louis Co. NJ.
5	69:152	1996-12-21		Burnsville	Dakota	(record #97– 17, vote 7–0).	Accepted
6	71:36	1997-12-01	1997-12-31	Detroit Lakes	Becker	(record #98–66, vote 5–2).	Accepted
	avian information	1997-12-01	1997-12-31		Becker	12/1-31 Becker (first winter record) Overwintered in Otter Tail (Fergus Falls) SDM. Also reported 12/18–1/11 Hennepin SC and the Detroit Lakes CBC (The Loon 70:171–172).
7	70:156	1997-12-18	1998-01-15	St. Louis Park	Hennepin	(record #98-18, vote 7–0).	Accepted
8	70:156	1997-12-20	1998-03-15	Fergus Falls	Otter Tail	(record #98-19, vote 7–0).	Accepted
	avian information	1998-12-01	1999-02-28		Otter Tail	winter Otter Tail (first winter record) Three December reports, but only one documented: 12/19 Otter Tail SDM (Fergus Falls CBC).
	avian information	1999-12-18			Becker	12/18 Becker (second winter record)
9	72:164	2000-03-04		Silver Lake	McLeod	(record #2000-40, vote 6–1).	Accepted
	avian information	2000-12-16			Winona	12/16 Winona (first winter record)
	avian information	2000-12-17			Polk	12/17 Polk (first winter record)
	avian information	2001-12-15			Blue Earth	12/15 Blue Earth (first winter record) Only documented report: 12/15 Mankato †CBC (1). Three additional reports undocumented. Note: Details requested for all winter reports of this species.
	avian information	2002-12-14			Houston	12/14 Houston (first winter record) Only documented report: 12/14 Bloomington †CBC (1). Reported without details from Winona and Hennepin.
	avian information	2002-12-14			Winona	12/14 Winona (second winter record) Only documented report: 12/14 Bloomington †CBC (1). Reported without details from Winona and Hennepin.
	avian information	2002-12-15			Cook	12/15 Cook (second winter record) Only documented report: 12/14 Bloomington †CBC (1). Reported without details from Winona and Hennepin.
	avian information	2004-02-23			Carver	2/23 Carver (first winter record)
	avian information	2004-12-13			Cottonwood	12/13 Cottonwood (second winter record) Record-late south 1/2 Mower (adult at feeder, Austin CBC) †JEM. Also reported 12/13 Cottonwood †BRB.
	avian information	2005-01-02			Mower	1/2 Mower (second winter record) Record-late south 1/2 Mower (adult at feeder, Austin CBC) †JEM. Also reported 12/13 Cottonwood †BRB.
	avian information	2005-01-08			Blue Earth	1/8 Blue Earth (second winter record) Record-late south 1/2 Mower (adult at feeder, Austin CBC) †JEM. Also reported 12/13 Cottonwood †BRB.
	avian information	2006-01-01			Washington	1/1 Washington (first winter record)
	avian information	2007-12-15			Olmsted	12/15 Olmsted (second winter record) One report on the Rochester CBC was documented. Most unusual was a well photographed individual 1/31 Mower ph. †CMy.
	avian information	2007-12-16	2008-01-31		Mower	12/16, 1/31 Mower (third winter record) One report on the Rochester CBC was documented. Most unusual was a well photographed individual 1/31 Mower ph. †CMy.
	avian information	2008-12-20			Stearns	12/20 Stearns (first winter record) One at feeder 12/20 Stearns †MJB (St. Cloud CBC). Also see undocumented records.
	avian information	2008-12-27			Meeker	12/27 Meeker (first winter record) One at feeder 12/20 Stearns †MJB (St. Cloud CBC). Also see undocumented records.
	avian information	2009-12-19			Kandiyohi	12/19 Kandiyohi (second winter record) One report: 12/19 Kandiyohi (Willmar) †RSF. See also undocumented records.
	avian information	2011-12-18			Lake	12/18 Lake (first winter record) Only report with details was 12/18 Lake †JWL, ph. GiW. Second record for the Two Harbors CBC (1st in 2009). Also see Undocumented Reports.
	avian information	2014-12-18	2015-02-28		Rice	12/18, 19, 20, 1/1, 2, 3, 11, 17, 26, 27, 31, 2/2, 28 Rice (first winter record) Several south reports continuing trend of increasing winter records: 12/18–2/28 Rice TFB (no documentation), 1/1–2/15 Winona (Whitewater S.P. Visitor Center feeders, apparently overwintered) †JmP, †SHr , †DFe, ph. ANy, m.ob, 1/2 Meeker ph. BNn. Also see Insufficiently Documented Reports.
	avian information	2015-01-01	2015-02-15		Winona	1/1, 6, 12, 14, 17, 19, 2/7, 8, 15 Winona (third winter record) Several south reports continuing trend of increasing winter records: 12/18–2/28 Rice TFB (no documentation), 1/1–2/15 Winona (Whitewater S.P. Visitor Center feeders, apparently overwintered) †JmP, †SHr , †DFe, ph. ANy, m.ob, 1/2 Meeker ph. BNn. Also see Insufficiently Documented Reports.
	avian information	2015-01-02			Meeker	1/2 Meeker (second winter record) Several south reports continuing trend of increasing winter records: 12/18–2/28 Rice TFB (no documentation), 1/1–2/15 Winona (Whitewater S.P. Visitor Center feeders, apparently overwintered) †JmP, †SHr , †DFe, ph. ANy, m.ob, 1/2 Meeker ph. BNn. Also see Insufficiently Documented Reports.
	avian information	2015-12-19			Sherburne	12/19 Sherburne (first winter record) All detailed reports: 12/19 Sherburne †DKl, 12/4, 12/7 Ramsey DFN, 1/4–26 Dakota (Resurrection Cemetery) ph. †BAF. Also see Insufficiently Documented Reports.
	avian information	2016-01-27	2016-02-11		Rice	1/27, 28, 2/10, 11 Rice (second winter record) All detailed reports: 12/19 Sherburne †DKl, 12/4, 12/7 Ramsey DFN, 1/4–26 Dakota (Resurrection Cemetery) ph. †BAF. Also see Insufficiently Documented Reports.
	avian information	2018-01-14	2018-02-09		Anoka	1/14, 2/9 Anoka (first winter record) Reported for fifth consecutive winter including several rare January records. All reports with documentation: 12/17 Dakota ph. AJF, 12/17–27 Hennepin ph. ABL, 1/6 Hennepin (Nine Mile Creek) ASu, LiH, late December – 2/9 Anoka (injured, overwintered) ph. JPo. See also Insufficiently Documented Reports.
	avian information	2018-12-02	2019-01-30		Polk	12/2-31, 1/2-30 Polk (second winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2018-12-02	2018-12-18		Todd	12/2, 18 Todd (first winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2018-12-14	2019-02-16		Lyon	12/14, 20, 28, 30, 1/13, 20, 28, 2/7, 16 Lyon (second winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2018-12-15			Jackson	12/15 Jackson (first winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2018-12-15			St. Louis	12/15 St. Louis (second winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2018-12-16			Lake	12/16 Lake (second winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2018-12-26	2019-01-19		Olmsted	12/26, 31, 1/19 Olmsted (third winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2018-12-27	2018-12-29		Douglas	12/27, 29 Douglas (first winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2019-01-01	2019-01-20		Rice	1/1, 12, 20 Rice (third winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2019-01-03			Fillmore	1/3 Fillmore (first winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2019-02-23	2019-02-26		Kandiyohi	2/23, 25, 26 Kandiyohi (third winter record) Observed in an unprecedented 14 counties with all records documented and/or photographed. The previous high of reporting counties was four in 2015. New season records: 12/27 Douglas LGl, 1/3 Fillmore ASu, 12/15 Jackson County CBC, 12/2 Todd SDi. Numerous January reports from Fillmore, Lyon, Olmsted, Polk, Ramsey, Rice indicate many overwintering birds.
	avian information	2019-12-01	2019-12-15		Lyon	12/1, 6, 15 Lyon (third winter record) Â Reported from eight scattered counties, below last season†™s unprecedented high of 14 counties, but still the second highest winter season total. All north reports: continuing from fall through 12/4 Morrison (Little Falls) SEm, m.ob., 1/1 – 2/22 Lake (Two Harbors) ph. † JWL, 1/4 Otter Tail † CMk. South reports 12/1–4 Hennepin (location?) ABL, 12/1–6 Lyon ph. GWe, 12/3 Hennepin (Brooklyn Park) MZa, 12/7–18 Hennepin (max. 2, Richfield) ph. CMB, 12/15 Mower ph. † KEm, 1/2 Dakota (Ravenna Twp.) KDS, 1/5–15 Ramsey (Roseville) ph. SPS.
	avian information	2019-12-03	2019-12-04		Morrison	12/3, 4 Morrison (first winter record) Â Reported from eight scattered counties, below last season†™s unprecedented high of 14 counties, but still the second highest winter season total. All north reports: continuing from fall through 12/4 Morrison (Little Falls) SEm, m.ob., 1/1 – 2/22 Lake (Two Harbors) ph. † JWL, 1/4 Otter Tail † CMk. South reports 12/1–4 Hennepin (location?) ABL, 12/1–6 Lyon ph. GWe, 12/3 Hennepin (Brooklyn Park) MZa, 12/7–18 Hennepin (max. 2, Richfield) ph. CMB, 12/15 Mower ph. † KEm, 1/2 Dakota (Ravenna Twp.) KDS, 1/5–15 Ramsey (Roseville) ph. SPS.
	avian information	2019-12-15			Mower	12/15 Mower (fourth winter record) Â Reported from eight scattered counties, below last season†™s unprecedented high of 14 counties, but still the second highest winter season total. All north reports: continuing from fall through 12/4 Morrison (Little Falls) SEm, m.ob., 1/1 – 2/22 Lake (Two Harbors) ph. † JWL, 1/4 Otter Tail † CMk. South reports 12/1–4 Hennepin (location?) ABL, 12/1–6 Lyon ph. GWe, 12/3 Hennepin (Brooklyn Park) MZa, 12/7–18 Hennepin (max. 2, Richfield) ph. CMB, 12/15 Mower ph. † KEm, 1/2 Dakota (Ravenna Twp.) KDS, 1/5–15 Ramsey (Roseville) ph. SPS.
	avian information	2020-01-01	2020-02-22		Lake	1/1, 2/22 Lake (third winter record) Â Reported from eight scattered counties, below last season†™s unprecedented high of 14 counties, but still the second highest winter season total. All north reports: continuing from fall through 12/4 Morrison (Little Falls) SEm, m.ob., 1/1 – 2/22 Lake (Two Harbors) ph. † JWL, 1/4 Otter Tail † CMk. South reports 12/1–4 Hennepin (location?) ABL, 12/1–6 Lyon ph. GWe, 12/3 Hennepin (Brooklyn Park) MZa, 12/7–18 Hennepin (max. 2, Richfield) ph. CMB, 12/15 Mower ph. † KEm, 1/2 Dakota (Ravenna Twp.) KDS, 1/5–15 Ramsey (Roseville) ph. SPS.
	avian information	2020-01-04			Otter Tail	1/4 Otter Tail (second winter record) Â Reported from eight scattered counties, below last season†™s unprecedented high of 14 counties, but still the second highest winter season total. All north reports: continuing from fall through 12/4 Morrison (Little Falls) SEm, m.ob., 1/1 – 2/22 Lake (Two Harbors) ph. † JWL, 1/4 Otter Tail † CMk. South reports 12/1–4 Hennepin (location?) ABL, 12/1–6 Lyon ph. GWe, 12/3 Hennepin (Brooklyn Park) MZa, 12/7–18 Hennepin (max. 2, Richfield) ph. CMB, 12/15 Mower ph. † KEm, 1/2 Dakota (Ravenna Twp.) KDS, 1/5–15 Ramsey (Roseville) ph. SPS.
	avian information	2021-01-10			St. Louis	1/10 St. Louis (third winter record) Two reports of feeder visitors with details: 12/1 – 1/9 Hennepin ph. MZa, 1/10 St. Louis (Duluth) JDx.
	avian information	2022-12-15	2022-12-30		Goodhue	12/15, 30 Goodhue (first winter record) Four December observations with descriptions or photos. Only north: 12/15, 12/20 Itasca (Grand Rapids) SC. All south: 12/11 Ramsey (St. Paul) ebd, 12/15 Goodhue (Belvidere Twp.) †KDS, GHo, 12/16–17 Hennepin (Eden Prairie) ChP, ebd.
	avian information	2022-12-15	2022-12-20		Itasca	12/15, 18, 20 Itasca (first winter record) Four December observations with descriptions or photos. Only north: 12/15, 12/20 Itasca (Grand Rapids) SC. All south: 12/11 Ramsey (St. Paul) ebd, 12/15 Goodhue (Belvidere Twp.) †KDS, GHo, 12/16–17 Hennepin (Eden Prairie) ChP, ebd.

	Breeds throughout.

Notes:

The information in the above table comes from several different sources. The count in column 1 indicates which of the sources is considered the primary source.
	'Accepted' MOURC entries from The MOURC Proceedings
	'Not Accepted' or 'Rejected' MOURC entry from The MOURC Proceedings
	Accepted MOU records assembled by David Cahlander
	Sighting records for ()
	Avian information from the occurrence maps, in dark red, assembled by Robert Janssen. Seasonal report for the species/season published in The Loon or The Flicker has been added.
	Information from The Loon index assembled by Anthony Hertzel and David Cahlander