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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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

Lark Bunting (C) (Calamospiza melanocorys)Start Date 1991-01-01
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
23:18-191951indexThe Lark Bunting in Rice County
23:87-881951indexLark Bunting at Virginia
28:1671956indexLark Bunting at Salt Lake, Minnesota
1:0MOU1960-06-01BreckenridgeWilkinThe Flicker 37:70Accepted
2:0MOU1961-08-31east of NimrodCassWadenaThe Flicker 33:118Accepted
3:0MOU1962-05-12DawsonLac qui ParleJanssen sighting. The Flicker 34:57Accepted
4:0MOU1963-05-26ManleyRockThe Loon 36:28Accepted
5:0MOU1963-09-01ManleyRockThe Flicker 35:128Accepted
36:26-281964indexBlue Grosbeaks and Lark Bunting in Rock County
36:92-931964indexLark Buntings Nesting at Salt Lake
6:0MOU1964-05-09SchroederCookThe Flicker 36:58 The Flicker 37:48Accepted
7:0MOU1964-05-24Two HarborsLakeThe Flicker 36:58Accepted
8:0MOU1964-05-24Artichoke Lake and Salt LakeRockThe Flicker 36:39Accepted
9:0MOU1964-05-26Big StoneThe Flicker 36:58Accepted
10:0MOU1964-05-311964-06-30Salt LakeLac qui ParleJanssen sighting. all males, singing The Flicker 36:88Accepted
11:0MOU1964-06-20southwest cornerRockThe Flicker 37:63Accepted
12:0MOU1964-09-05Salt LakeLac qui ParleJanssen sighting. The Flicker 36:126Accepted
MOU1964-09-05Salt LakeLac qui ParleJanssen sighting. Duplicate
37:48-491965indexLark Bunting and Dickcissel in Cook County
37:63-691965indexLark Bunting Occurrence in Southwestern Minnesota
37:70-721965indexComments on the Distribution and Abundance of the Lark Bunting and Other Prairie Fringillids in Minnesota and North Dakota
37:821965indexLark Bunting in Lake County
37:82-831965indexBreeding Lark Buntings and American Avocets in Lac Qui Parle County
37:1091965indexLark Bunting Record for the North Shore
38:141-1421966indexBlue Grosbeaks and Lark Buntings in Nobles County
40:581968indexLark Bunting Seen in St. Paul
49:105-1061977indexAn Unusual Visitor at our Feeder
49:2291977indexSummer Record of a Lark Bunting in Stearns County
51:200-2021979indexLark Bunting in the BWCA
54:1891982indexLark Bunting in Cook County
56:1911984indexLark Bunting in Aitkin County
57:1811985indexLark Bunting in Cook County
59:46-471987indexSome Unusual Fall Dates from Duluth and Vicinity
59:531987indexLark Bunting at Duluth
60:1371988indexLark Bunting in Aitkin County
13:1MOU1991-04-27Big StoneThe Loon 63:264Accepted
avian
information
1991-04-27Big Stone4/27 Big Stone (first state record) (first county record)
One report 4/27 Big Stone DC.
14:2MOU1991-06-23Louriston TownshipChippewaThe Loon 64:33Accepted
avian
information
1991-06-23Chippewa6/23 Chippewa (second state record) (first county record)
One male observed 6/23 Chippewa CMB.
15:3MOU1992-06-04Thief Lake WMAMarshallThe Loon 65:29Accepted
avian
information
1992-06-04Marshall6/4 Marshall (third state record) (first county record)
Two records, both unusually far north. One adult male observed on 6/4 just south of Thief L. WMA in Marshall Co. MCBS; another male seen on 6/5,6 at Felton Prairie in Clay Co. KR et al.
16:4MOU1992-06-05Felton PrairieClayThe Loon 65:48 The Loon 65:29Accepted
65:481993indexLark Bunting at the Felton Prairie, Clay County
17:5MOU1993-06-01near CyrusPopeThe Loon 66:31Accepted
avian
information
1993-06-01Pope6/1 Pope (fourth state record) (first county record)
Only report: one male in a field near Cyrus, Pope Co. on 6/1 BBo (migrant?).
18:6MOU1994-06-011994-06-02Camp RipleyMorrisonThe Loon 66:118 The Loon 67:34Accepted
avian
information
1994-06-011994-06-02Morrison6/1-2 Morrison (sixth state record) (first county record)
Three observations, all away from usual range: one male on 6/1 at Camp Ripley in Morrison Co. SM (The Loon 66:118), a male photographed on 6/2 near Springsteel Island in Roseau Co. PS/SB, and a single bird on 6/24 near Duluth in St. Louis Co. fide KE.
19:7MOU1994-06-02Springsteel IslandRoseauThe Loon 67:34Accepted
avian
information
1994-06-02Roseau6/2 Roseau (first summer record)
Three observations, all away from usual range: one male on 6/1 at Camp Ripley in Morrison Co. SM (The Loon 66:118), a male photographed on 6/2 near Springsteel Island in Roseau Co. PS/SB, and a single bird on 6/24 near Duluth in St. Louis Co. fide KE.
avian
information
1994-06-04Lake of the Woods6/4 Lake of the Woods (fifth state record) (first county record)
Three observations, all away from usual range: one male on 6/1 at Camp Ripley in Morrison Co. SM (The Loon 66:118), a male photographed on 6/2 near Springsteel Island in Roseau Co. PS/SB, and a single bird on 6/24 near Duluth in St. Louis Co. fide KE.
20:8MOU1994-06-24DuluthSt. LouisThe Loon 67:34Accepted
avian
information
1994-06-24St. Louis6/24 St. Louis (first summer record)
Three observations, all away from usual range: one male on 6/1 at Camp Ripley in Morrison Co. SM (The Loon 66:118), a male photographed on 6/2 near Springsteel Island in Roseau Co. PS/SB, and a single bird on 6/24 near Duluth in St. Louis Co. fide KE.
21:9MOU1995-06-12Felton PrairieClayThe Loon 68:54Accepted
22:1071:1561998-08-25RichfieldHennepin(record #99-08, vote 7–0). The Loon 71:97 The Loon 71:157Accepted
avian
information
1998-08-25Hennepin8/25 Hennepin (seventh state record) (first county record)
Only documented report: 8/25 Hennepin (MSP Airport) TT, m.ob., 9/28 St. Louis (40th Ave. West in Duluth) SR. [Corrected]
23:1172:401998-09-28DuluthSt. Louis(record #99–39, vote 6–1). The Loon 71:239Accepted
MOU1998-09-2840 Ave. West, DuluthSt. LouisThe Loon 71:239Accepted
73:351998-10-01DuluthSt. Louis(record #2000-61, vote 2–5). The majority had too many uncertainties about the description to accept the record. The amount and position of the white on the tail is unclear and inconsistently described; also unclear is whether or not the underparts were streaked. Finally, the sketched position of the white on the wings is somewhat incorrect for this species. Not Accepted
24:1272:1641999-05-20near ClarkfieldYellow Medicine(record #2000-27, vote 7–0). Accepted
avian
information
1999-05-20Yellow Medicine5/20 Yellow Medicine (eighth state record) (first county record)
One report 5/20 Yellow Medicine (male, Normania Twp.) PE. [Corrected]
72:401999-07-09Cedar Rock W.M.A.Redwood(record #99– 50, vote 2–5). The bird was only seen for a few seconds in flight, and the brief description only includes mention of a black bird with white wing patches. There is no mention of the size or position of the white patches, and the possibility of it being a partial albino blackbird is not precluded. In addition, the mostly wooded and shrubby habitat where the bird was seen would be atypical for this species. Not Accepted
25:1372:1642000-05-132000-05-14Stoney PointSt. Louis(record #2000-43, vote 7–0). Accepted
75:412002-05-13Crow Wing(record #2002-50, vote 3–4). This was a difficult record to evaluate, with an inconclusive first-round vote and a discussion taking place at a committee meeting before the final vote was taken. It was agreed the identification by the two experienced observers may have been correct, but only one of them provided documentation, and it is brief and incomplete. The size and shape of the bird is not given, and some not accepting the record felt the description could also indicate a partial albino blackbird, which was apparently not considered as a possibility by the observers. Finally, the bird was observed as it perched “on the top of a small tree above a small pond in Crow Wing State Park,” and such behavior and habitat would be quite atypical for a Lark Bunting. Not Accepted
26:1475:1602002-05-23near DawsonLac qui Parle(record #2003-15, vote 6–1). This adult male was observed by a very experienced observer who has done field research on the species in Colorado. Accepted
76:1522004-05-16near NashwaukItasca(recirculated record #2004-046, first vote 4–3, second vote 3–4). This out of range bird perched in a tree may have been a male Lark Bunting, but the size, shape, and exact location of its wing patches were not described, and blackbirds with albinistic wing patches were not considered. More importantly, Bobolink was neither considered nor eliminated by the description. Field notes were not submitted. The description was apparently written more than two weeks after the sighting and may have been influenced by field guides. Not Accepted
76:1522004-05-18near MarshallLyon(record #2004-074, vote 3–4). This sighting was initially posted to MOU-net as a “probable” Lark Bunting seen without binoculars. The observer, while driving, flushed a small bird from a roadside ditch; by the time the observer pulled over to the side of the road, the bird was an estimated quarter mile away and could not be refound. Not Accepted
77:92004-06-292004-07-18SpringfieldBrown(record #2004083, vote 2–5). The observer reported no experience with this species. The description was incomplete, and the bird's behavior and habitat were atypical for Lark Bunting. Other observers were unable to confirm the identification. Not Accepted
27:1577:92004-09-0640th Avenue West, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2004-091, vote 7–0). Refound and photographed following its initial discovery. Accepted
28:1677:92004-10-04Gooseberry Falls State ParkLake(record #2004-120, vote 6–1). Field notes and sketches submitted by an experienced observer convinced all but one Committee member. Accepted
avian
information
2004-10-04Lake10/4 Lake (ninth state record) (first county record)
Two reports of this Casual species, both from the Northeast: 9/6 St. Louis (basic-plumaged female at 40th Avenue West/Erie Pier in Duluth) †MTA, ph. MH, ph. †PHS, 10/4 Lake (Gooseberry Falls S.P.) †RPR.
29:1777:1692005-05-26ElySt. Louis(record #2005-026, vote 7–0). Accepted
30:1878:402005-05-272005-05-29Castle DangerLake(record #2005-051, vote 7–0). Adult male photographed at a feeder along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Accepted
avian
information
2005-05-272005-05-29Lake5/27-29 Lake (tenth state record) (second county record)
Two accepted records: adult female 5/26 St. Louis (Ely) BET, †PHS and adult male 5/27–29 Lake (Castle Danger) ph. LL.
31:1978:402005-08-30SchroederCook(record #2005075, vote 5–2). Also along the North Shore of Lake Superior was this fall migrant in female-type plumage. Those voting against this record were concerned about the lack of field notes. Accepted
32:2079:502006-06-14Benville TownshipBeltrami(record #2006-062, vote 7–0). This adult male was found during a Breeding Bird Survey. Accepted
avian
information
2006-06-14Beltrami6/14 Beltrami (eleventh state record) (first county record)
Adult male discovered during Breeding Bird Survey 6/14 Beltrami (Benville Twp.) †BAB.
avian
information
2006-08-182006-08-19Lake8/18-19 Lake (twelfth state record) (third county record)
Female/immature found 8/19 Lake (Split Rock Lighthouse S.P.) ph. DAG. [Corrected]
33:2179:1232006-08-19Split Rock Lighthouse State ParkLake(record #2006-102, vote 7–0). Accepted
34:2279:1232006-12-11Airport Road, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2006-104, vote 7–0). Accepted
avian
information
2006-12-11St. Louis12/11 St. Louis (second winter record)
Late migrant 12/11 St. Louis (Airport Road, Duluth) †DAG, †JWL, ph. KRE.
35:2380:52007-06-232007-07-01near Glacial Ridge National Wildlife RefugePolk(record #2007-045, vote 7–0). Accepted
avian
information
2007-06-232007-07-01Polk6/23-7/1 Polk (thirteenth state record) (first county record)
Singing male observed 6/23–7/1 Polk (near Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) LS, JCC, †DAB, †PCC, ph. †JMJ, ph. †PHS, m.ob.
80:1152007-08-02near MariettaLac qui Parle(record #2007-049, vote 1–6). Not Accepted
36:2480:52007-08-02near MariettaLac qui Parle(record #2007-049, vote 6–1). Accepted
avian
information
2007-08-02Lac qui Parle8/2 Lac qui Parle (first fall record)
37:2581:72007-09-14Gunflint Trail about 15 miles north of Grand MaraisCook(record #2008-051, vote 7–0). A diagnostic image was submitted one year later. Accepted
81:72008-08-03Florida TownshipYellow Medicine(record #2008038, vote 2–5). Though possibly correctly identified, the bird was only briefly seen (two to five seconds) from an estimated distance of 100 yards and optics were not used. The description did not eliminate Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) or blackbirds with white wing patches. Not Accepted
82:1032010-05-19Kolu Road, Sax-Zim Bog areaSt. Louis(record #2010-017, vote 3–4). Field notes were not taken and the observer was not aware that this species was unusual for this area. The brief description did not eliminate the possibility of Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) or partial albino blackbird or cowbird. Not Accepted
38:2682:1032010-05-282010-05-29County Road 7, Agassiz National Wildlife RefugeMarshall(record #2010-025, vote 7–0). Third county record and first refuge record. Photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2010-05-282010-05-29Marshall5/28-29 Marshall (fourteenth state record) (second county record)
Adult male 5/28–29 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R.) ph. †BRB. This was the third county record and the first to be photographed for the refuge.
39:2783:32010-08-17Sherburne NWR, Mahnomen TrailSherburne(record #2010028, vote 7–0). Accepted
avian
information
2010-08-17Sherburne8/17 Sherburne (fifteenth state record) (first county record)
A second county record 8/17 Sherburne (Mahnomen Trail, Sherburne N.W.R.) †DMa.
40:2884:1072012-06-14Round Lake Township (T101N, R38W)Jackson(record #2012-024, vote 7–0). This observation, submitted by a competent observer, was also substantiated by photographic evidence. Only the second post-nineteenth century record for the county; the first was in 1971. Accepted
41:2985:992013-05-18140th Street between Roberts and Sundberg Avenues in northeasternNobles(record #2013-018, vote 7–0). Adult male. The bird was observed and photographed by several competent observers. Accepted
42:3087:42014-09-14Superior National Forest, Old Gunflint TrailCook(record #2014-044, vote 7–0). Female/immature, photographed. Accepted
43:3188:912016-05-252016-05-26near the town of CookSt. Louis(record #2016-015, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed. Accepted
44:3288:912016-06-042016-06-06County Road 12, Mehurin TownshipLac qui Parle(44.8923,-96.3674) (record #2016-019, vote 7–0). Adult male. Accepted
45:3389:872016-06-06Wilkin County (record #2016-051Wilkin(record #2016-051, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed. Accepted
46:3491:892016-06-06private residenceWilkin(record #2016-054, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed. Accepted
MOU2016-06-06Wilkin(record #2016-051, vote 7–0).Accepted
avian
information
2016-06-06Wilkin6/6 Wilkin (first county record)
Seen 6/4, 6/6 Lac qui Parle (male, C.R. 12, Mehurin Twp.) †PHS, JEB, 6/6 Wilkin (pending acceptance by MOURC) ph. JPk, 6/11 Polk (male, Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) ph. †CBh, 6/21–22 Lyon (Lone Tree L.) ph. †GWe.
47:3588:912016-06-11Glacial Ridge National Wildlife RefugePolk(record #2016-021, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2016-06-11Polk6/11 Polk (second county record)
Seen 6/4, 6/6 Lac qui Parle (male, C.R. 12, Mehurin Twp.) †PHS, JEB, 6/6 Wilkin (pending acceptance by MOURC) ph. JPk, 6/11 Polk (male, Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) ph. †CBh, 6/21–22 Lyon (Lone Tree L.) ph. †GWe.
48:3688:912016-06-212016-06-22Lone Tree LakeLyon(record #2016-026, vote 7–0). Female, photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2016-06-212016-06-22Lyon6/21, 22 Lyon (first county record)
Seen 6/4, 6/6 Lac qui Parle (male, C.R. 12, Mehurin Twp.) †PHS, JEB, 6/6 Wilkin (pending acceptance by MOURC) ph. JPk, 6/11 Polk (male, Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) ph. †CBh, 6/21–22 Lyon (Lone Tree L.) ph. †GWe.
90:32017-09-07State Line Road/100th St, east of Lake Bella WMANobles(record #2017-042, vote 2–5). Not Accepted
90:862017-09-07State Line Road/100th St, east of Lake Bella WMANobles(record #2017-042, vote 2–5). Not Accepted
avian
information
2017-09-07Nobles9/7 Nobles (first fall record)
49:3791:32018-08-02Hamlin Wildlife Management AreaLac qui Parle(record #2018-033, vote 7–0). Accepted
avian
information
2018-08-02Lac qui Parle8/2 Lac qui Parle (second fall record)
 Two reports of this casual species: 8/2 Lac qui Parle (adult male, Hamlin W.M.A.) † LiH, 10/22–24 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) DEd, ph † PHS, ph † REn, † IsH, † EzH, † KRE, ph LME, ASu, LiH, DOr, m.ob. Also see records awaiting review by MOURC in the introduction.
50:3892:922018-10-13the Kenwood neighborhood, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2018-062, vote 6–1). Female, photographed. Accepted
51:3991:32018-10-232018-10-24(Sky Harbor Airport, DuluthSt. Louis(record #2018-045, vote 7–0). Female/ immature, photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2019-09-282019-09-29Lake9/28, 29 Lake (fourth county record)
One report of this casual species 9/28–29 Lake (Two Harbors) JGW, ph. † KEm, † JWH.
93:1112020-09-19 Kandi State Wildlife Management AreaKandiyohi (record #2020-057, initial vote 4–3, recirculated vote 2–5). Several members were unwilling to accept the observation based on limited details especially since no optics were mentioned.

Not Accepted
52:4093:1112021-09-26 ball fields on Park Point, DuluthSt. Louis (record #2021-072, vote 7–0). Photographed. Age and sex uncertain.

Accepted
53:4194:1152022-06-13 in a residential development near StillwaterWashington (record #2022-062, vote 7–0). Adult male photographed. First county record. Accepted
avian
information
2022-06-13Washington6/13 Washington (first county record)
New county record: 6/13 Washington (Lone Oak Trail) RSd, ph. †BAb, †EzH, †LiH, m.ob.
54:4295:32023-05-21 50th Avenue East, DuluthSt. Louis (record #2023-057, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed.

Accepted
 
 Former summer resident southwest and west-central. Last breeding record 1964. Recorded in seven of the last ten years, most recently 2018.

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