MOURC Proceedings Archive - Pipits 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: Pipits
American Pipit
Sprague's Pipit

Sprague's Pipit (A) (Anthus spragueii)Start Date 1987-01-01
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
1:0MOU1933-06-201933-06-24PenningtonThe Flicker 5:42Accepted
2:0MOU1937-06-18WarrenMarshallThe Flicker 9:34Accepted
3:0MOU1941-04-27MuskodaClayThe Flicker 22:103Accepted
18:651946indexChestnut-collared Longspur and Sprague's Pipit
4:0MOU1946-08-01near FoxhomeWilkinThe Flicker 18:65Accepted
5:0MOU1948-04-113.5 miles NW of PennockKandiyohiAccepted
31:1371959indexSprague's Pipit Seen in Rock County
6:0MOU1959-09-07JasperRockThe Flicker 31:137Accepted
7:0MOU1961-06-171961-07-15Felton prairieClayThe Flicker 33:76, 35:68Accepted
8:0MOU1961-09-22near NimrodWadenaThe Flicker 33:117Accepted
9:0MOU1962-05-301962-06-23Felton prairieClayThe Flicker 34:56, 34:84Accepted
35:68-701963indexSprague's Pipit in the Felton Area
10:0MOU1963-05-301963-06-01Felton prairieClayThe Flicker 35:56Accepted
11:0MOU1964-04-251964-06-01Felton prairieClayThe Flicker 36:52Accepted
12:0MOU1964-05-13DakotaThe Flicker 36:52Accepted
13:0MOU1965-07-311965-08-01Felton prairieClayThe Loon 38:17, 38:75Accepted
14:0MOU1965-10-25CokatoWrightThe Loon 38:52Accepted
15:0MOU1966-08-061966-08-13Felton prairieClayThe Loon 39:15Accepted
16:0MOU1967-06-18Felton prairieClayThe Loon 39:128Accepted
17:0MOU1968-05-301968-06-03Felton prairieClayThe Loon 40:84Accepted
18:0MOU1969-06-10Buffalo River State ParkClayAccepted
19:0MOU1969-06-13Felton prairieClayThe Loon 41:113Accepted
20:0MOU1969-10-15DuluthSt. LouisThe Loon 42:115Accepted
42:76-771970indexPossible Sprague's Pipit Record
42:115-1161970indexSprague's Pipit on the North Shore of Lake Superior
21:0MOU1970-05-231970-06-13Felton prairieClayThe Loon 42:95, 40:126, 42:95, 42:110, 42:134Accepted
22:0MOU1970-09-23WadenaThe Loon 43:64Accepted
23:0MOU1971-05-01NimrodWadenaThe Loon 43:86Accepted
24:0MOU1971-05-14Felton prairieClayThe Loon 43:86Accepted
25:0MOU1972-05-17St. JosephStearnsThe Loon 44:79Accepted
26:0MOU1972-06-021972-10-09Felton prairieClayThe Loon 44:79Accepted
27:0MOU1973-05-261973-10-10Felton prairieClayThe Loon 46:23, 46:59Accepted
28:0MOU1973-06-10near BoydLac qui ParleThe Loon 46:23Accepted
29:0MOU1974-04-281974-05-05RockThe Loon 46:154Accepted
30:0MOU1974-07-281974-08-03Felton prairieClayThe Loon 47:86Accepted
31:0MOU1974-10-131974-10-16Moorhead sewage lagoonsClayThe Loon 47:86Accepted
32:0MOU1975-08-10MahnomenThe Loon 48:101Accepted
33:0MOU1975-09-28RockThe Loon 48:101Accepted
34:0MOU1975-10-03Pierce LakeMartinThe Loon 48:101Accepted
35:0MOU1976-05-06Blue Mounds SPRockThe Loon 48:167Accepted
36:0MOU1976-05-30MarcouxPolkThe Loon 48:167Accepted
37:0MOU1977-05-25Pembina Trail WMAPolkThe Loon 49:222Accepted
38:0MOU1977-05-27ClayThe Loon 49:222Accepted
39:0MOU1978-05-141978-06-07ClayThe Loon 50:200Accepted
40:0MOU1978-10-01WilkinThe Loon 51:93Accepted
51:2091979indexEarly Migrant Sprague's Pipit in Hennepin County
41:0MOU1979-08-13French LHennepinThe Loon 51:209, 52:80Accepted
42:0MOU1979-09-29RothsayWilkinThe Loon 52:80Accepted
52:191-1921980indexSprague's Pipit at Duluth
43:0MOU1980-05-231980-07-01Felton prairieClayThe Loon 52:164Accepted
44:0MOU1980-05-26DuluthSt. LouisThe Loon 52:164Accepted
45:0MOU1980-07-01Section 15, Rockwell TwpNormanThe Loon 53:142Accepted
46:0MOU1980-09-07DuluthSt. LouisThe Loon 52:191, 53:96Accepted
47:0MOU1980-10-18WilkinAccepted
48:0MOU1981-07-25FeltonClayThe Loon 54:23Accepted
49:0MOU1983-05-01Lac qui ParleThe Loon 55:169Accepted
50:0MOU1983-06-13Bicentennial PrairieClayAccepted
51:0MOU1984-05-271984-06-04Felton prairieClayThe Loon 56:255, 57:46Accepted
52:1MOU1987-07-221987-08-08Felton prairieClayThe Loon 59:149, 60:26, 60:83Accepted
60:131987-08-17Lake Louise S.PMower(vote 0-7). The sketchy description did not rule out other possibilities, especially juvenile Horned Lark or Vesper Sparrow; also , the documentation implies that the observers did not consider any other alternate possibilities, even though other species are often misidentified as Sprague's Pipit, a species poorly protrayed in most field guides (for an accurate illustration of this species, see the photos in the Master Guide to Birding) . Not Accepted
avian
information
1988-06-011988-07-04Polk6/1-31, 7/4 Polk (second state record) (first county record)
Nested (first state nesting record since 1972) in Polk (The Loon 60:104-108); also a singing male seen in Aitkin (6/26, The Loon 60:187).
60:104-1081988indexSprague's Pipit Nest in Polk County
60:1871988indexSprague's Pipit in Aitkin County
53:261:101988-06-26near AitkinAitkin(vote 5-2; The Loon 60:187). Accepted
avian
information
1988-06-26Aitkin6/26 Aitkin (first state record) (first county record)
Nested (first state nesting record since 1972) in Polk (The Loon 60:104-108); also a singing male seen in Aitkin (6/26, The Loon 60:187).
54:3MOU1988-06-261988-07-24DugdalePolkThe Loon 60:104-108Accepted
MOU1988-07-04near GentillyPolkNot Accepted
avian
information
1990-06-011990-09-01Roseausummer, 7/30-9/1 Roseau (third state record) (first county record)
At least two singing males north of Roseau, Roseau Co., 7/28-29 (The Loon 62:167).
62:1671990indexSprague's Pipit in Roseau County
55:463:411990-07-281990-08-15near RoseauRoseau(vote 7-0; The Loon 62:167). Accepted
MOU1990-07-281990-09-01RoseauRoseauThe Loon 63:126Accepted
63:2841991indexAnother Sprague's Pipit Sighting
56:5MOU1991-04-271991-06-01RoseauRoseauThe Loon 63:260Accepted
avian
information
1991-04-271991-05-24Roseau4/27, 5/24 Roseau (fifth state record) (second county record)
All reports: 4/27-5/31 Roseau (three returned to last year's site) MO et al., SIS Felton Prairie, Clay Co. (I) MO.
57:6MOU1991-05-05Felton prairieClayThe Loon 63:260Accepted
MOU1991-05-241991-06-19near BixbyRoseauNot Accepted
MOU1991-05-241991-06-19near BixbyRoseauNot Accepted
58:764:151991-05-25Badoura Twp.Hubbard(vote 7-0; The Loon 62:284). Accepted
avian
information
1991-05-25Hubbard5/25 Hubbard (fourth state record) (first county record)
All reports: 4/27-5/31 Roseau (three returned to last year's site) MO et al., SIS Felton Prairie, Clay Co. (I) MO.
MOU1991-06-011991-07-31Near RoseauRoseauJanssen sighting. singingDuplicate
avian
information
1991-06-011991-07-31Roseausummer Roseau (sixth state record) (third county record)
Reported for second straight year in Roseau mob.
64:2311992indexSprague's Pipit in Clay County
59:865:331992-08-22Felton PrairieClay(vote 7-0; The Loon 64:231). Accepted
60:9MOU1994-05-18near BeardsleyBig StoneThe Loon 66:186, 67:56Accepted
avian
information
1994-05-18Big Stone5/18 Big Stone (seventh state record) (first county record)
One report: 5/18 Big Stone AH, PH.
61:1067:451994-06-25Felton PrairieClayThe Loon 67:31Accepted
67:451994-08-16near Big ForkKoochichingThe incomplete description does not include the bill shape or the overall plumage coloration, and there is no direct mention of white outer tail feathers. Among other things, therefore, the possibilities of Vesper Sparrow and juvenile Horned Lark are not precluded. Not Accepted
67:56-571995indexSprague's Pipit in Big Stone County
62:1168:581995-05-311995-06-01Kertsonville TwpPolk(The Loon 68:67-68), 68:50Accepted
avian
information
1995-05-31Polk5/31 Polk (eighth state record) (second county record)
One heard singing 5/31 Polk MCBS.
68:67-681996indexSprague's Pipit in Polk County, 31 May - 1 June 1995
69:1521997-04-25near East Grand ForksPolk(record #97-29, vote 0-7). The observer did not consider the species to be unusual, and his description is therefore not detailed enough to indicate this species. For one thing the leg color was not noted; in addition, the bill is described as black, which alone would preclude Sprague's Pipit. Not Accepted
70:441997-05-10near SabinClay(recirculated record #97-42, vote 3-4). The majority felt the description was not complete or specific enough to preclude the possibility of the birds being juvenile Horned Larks, American Pipits, Vesper Sparrows or longspurs. The legs were described as pink, but the light conditions at the time were not described, and some references state that Horned Larks and American Pipits sometimes have legs which are fleshcolored or tinged with pink. The description of the underparts implies they were unstreaked, which alone would preclude Sprague's Pipit. The only reason stated for eliminating Vesper Sparrow from consideration was the lack of a visible chestnut shoulder patch, a mark which is often not visible. Neither observer had any useful experience with this species, and they consulted field guides while making their identification, but in life Sprague's Pipits do not resemble the illustrations in any of the standard field guides. Finally, the location of the birds in a roadside ditch adjacent to a stubble field would be atypical for this species, and it would be highly unusual to find three individual Sprague's Pipits migrating together in Minnesota. Not Accepted
63:1271:361998-10-241998-10-25Rothsay W.M.A.Wilkin(record #98- 88, vote 7-0, The Loon 71:53-54). Accepted
73:352000-06-18Felton PrairieClay(record #2000-59, vote 3-4). The description provided is entirely adequate and consistent with the identification, but the majority of the Committee felt the record was weakened by the observer's inexperience with this species, which was often involved with misidentifications. Some also felt the documentation is incomplete since the leg color was not noted, and no reason was given for why juvenile Horned Lark was eliminated from consideration. Not Accepted
64:1374:362001-09-21Mendota HeightsDakota(record #2001-51, vote 7-0). Excellent written description and sketches by an experienced observer. Accepted
avian
information
2001-09-212001-09-22Dakota9/21-22 Dakota (ninth state record) (first county record)
One found 9/21 Dakota (Resurrection Cemetery) †TAT was relocated the next morning †ADS. One of the very few Minnesota records of this species away from western regions.
75:412002-07-28Glacial Ridge National Wildlife RefugePolk(record #2002-65, vote 2-5). Although the written descriptions by the two observers generally tend to fit this species, they could also just as easily fit the more likely possibilities of a Vesper Sparrow or juvenile Horned Lark. There is no mention of the bill shape and color, and the Sprague's Pipit's distinctive body shape and behavior is not described. Not Accepted
75:1602002-09-20DaytonHennepin(record #2003-07, vote 0-7). The documentation does not include nearly enough detail to support the identification. The entire description only includes mention that the bird “appeared somewhat lighter” than some adjacent American Pipits and had “light legs/pink.” However, no plumage details are included, and American Pipit remains a possibility since this species is variable in plumage and can sometimes have palecolored legs. Not Accepted
65:1476:392003-05-01MorrisStevens(record #2003-59, vote 5-2). Those not accepting this record were concerned that it was primarily documented by an excellent color sketch “taken from journal...done two hours after seeing bird.” However, the original field sketch, which would have been more useful in documenting the bird, was not submitted. Accepted
avian
information
2003-05-01Stevens5/1 Stevens (tenth state record) (first county record)
One seen 5/1 Stevens (Pomme de Terre City Park in Morris) †JMP.
76:1522004-04-07Walter TownshipLac qui Parle(record #2004-036, vote 2-5). This would be extraordinarily early for Sprague's Pipit, not only for Minnesota but also compared to record-early dates in North and South Dakota. A standard documentation form was not used, so important information including the observer's experience and how other species were eliminated was missing. White wing bars are fairly obvious on Sprague's Pipit, but were not noted on this bird despite its being observed on the ground from a distance of only 15 feet. Its “stocky, stiff appearance” in flight and “quick sputtering wingbeats followed by short glides” suggested species other than pipit. Not Accepted
76:1522004-04-26Yellow Bank TownshipLac qui Parle(record #2004-037, vote 3-4). The documentation was strikingly similar to the previous record, e.g., its “stocky appearance in flight” and “rapid, stiff wingbeats followed by short glides.” White wing bars were not noted and leg color could not be seen. The observer's experience with this species and how other species were eliminated were unclear. Not Accepted
77:92004-07-27Keene TownshipClay(record #2004-080, vote 3-4). Call notes supported the identification, but this species' distinctive white outer tail feathers and whitish wing bars were not noted. Field notes were not submitted. Not Accepted
66:1577:92004-10-102004-10-11Red Rock PrairieCottonwood(record #2004-104, vote 7-0). One of the very few migrant Sprague's Pipits ever photographed in the state. Accepted
avian
information
2004-10-102004-10-11Cottonwood10/10-11 Cottonwood (eleventh state record) (first county record)
Third fall report in 12 years and one of the very few to be photographed in the state in recent decades; discovered at Red Rock Prairie 10/10 Cottonwood †RMD, †JGW et al. and refound 10/11 ph. †PHS.
67:1679:502006-09-17DuluthSt. Louis(record #2006-085, vote 6-1). Accepted
avian
information
2006-09-17St. Louis9/17 St. Louis (twelfth state record) (first county record)
Fourth fall report in 14 years: 9/17 St. Louis (Duluth Twp., near Homestead Rd and Old North Shore Rd) †JCG, JGr. It could not be refound later that day.
83:32010-08-02Becker(record #2010-027, vote 0-7). This was a heard-only observation. While several members initially expressed a desire to accept the record, it was overridden by the observer's lack of actual field experience regarding vocalizations. Similarly, the brevity of the auditory encounter weighed heavily against acceptance. Not Accepted
84:32011-05-05Lac qui Parle(record #2011-032, vote 0-7). There is no written description of the bird but only a rather fuzzy photo. The opinion of all of the members was the image alone is not diagnostic. Not Accepted
68:1784:1072012-06-082012-06-29Felton Prairie area, Keene Twp.Clay(record #2012-017, vote 7-0). The photos and descriptions of behavior and song leave no doubt about the identification. Many people saw and heard this bird and provided adequate documentation. The bird was displaying and apparently in full song. When a rare species is present for an extended time period such as this one, it would be desirable to attempt to obtain a sound recording. Incidentally, this species has been recorded at Felton Prairie in twenty-one distinct years commencing in 1961. Accepted
69:1887:42013-06-27Old LTV Tailings Basin, (T59R14d) 7.25 miles north of Hoyt LakesSt. Louis(record #2013-046, first vote 2-5, reconsidered vote 7-0). This is one of very few heard-only records ever accepted by MOURC. Accepted
70:1986:32013-10-182013-10-19Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.Cottonwood(record #2013-059, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2013-10-182013-10-19Cottonwood10/18-19 Cottonwood (thirteenth state record) (second county record)
First fall record since 2006:10/18–19 Cottonwood †KRE, †LS, ph. DBM, m.ob. Second county record, found by the Minnesota Birding Weekends group at Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A. on 10/18, and relocated at the same location on the following day.
71:2089:32016-10-05South Heron LakeJackson(record #2016-038, vote 6-1). Accepted
avian
information
2016-10-05Jackson10/5 Jackson (fourteenth state record) (first county record)
Second fall record since 2006:10/5 Jackson (Heron Lake W.M.A.) †DAk.
93:1112021-08-07 Salt Lake, near MariettaLac qui Parle (record #2021-061, vote 2-5). Neither distance nor duration of observation was given. There are very few reliable reports for the south region prior to 15 September for any year in the MOU database. It is very unlikely to be a Sprague's Pipit at this location and time of year. The observer did not specifically hear any vocalization, but made the statement “I may have heard the characteristic “squeet” call, but there were many swallows in the area, and the UPSA were making chatter sounds at the same time, so not confident in that.” Since no distance or duration of the observation was given, it may have been nothing more than a Vesper Sparrow which is very common for this time of year and location.

Not Accepted
 
 Former summer resident northwest. Last breeding record 1988. Recorded in one (2016) of the last ten years. State designation: Endangered. Formerly Casual.

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