MOURC Proceedings Archive for The Loon

	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

	Ref	First	Last	Location	County	Comment	Status
Sprague's Pipit (C) (Anthus spragueii)						Start Date 1987-01-01
1:0	MOU	1933-06-20	1933-06-24		Pennington	The Flicker 5:42	Accepted
2:0	MOU	1937-06-18		Warren	Marshall	The Flicker 9:34	Accepted
3:0	MOU	1941-04-27		Muskoda	Clay	The Flicker 22:103	Accepted
	18:65	1946	index			Chestnut-collared Longspur and Sprague's Pipit
4:0	MOU	1946-08-01		near Foxhome	Wilkin	The Flicker 18:65	Accepted
5:0	MOU	1948-04-11		3.5 miles NW of Pennock	Kandiyohi		Accepted
	31:137	1959	index			Sprague's Pipit Seen in Rock County
6:0	MOU	1959-09-07		Jasper	Rock	The Flicker 31:137	Accepted
7:0	MOU	1961-06-17	1961-07-15	Felton prairie	Clay	The Flicker 33:76, 35:68	Accepted
8:0	MOU	1961-09-22		near Nimrod	Wadena	The Flicker 33:117	Accepted
9:0	MOU	1962-05-30	1962-06-23	Felton prairie	Clay	The Flicker 34:56, 34:84	Accepted
	35:68-70	1963	index			Sprague's Pipit in the Felton Area
10:0	MOU	1963-05-30	1963-06-01	Felton prairie	Clay	The Flicker 35:56	Accepted
11:0	MOU	1964-04-25	1964-06-01	Felton prairie	Clay	The Flicker 36:52	Accepted
12:0	MOU	1964-05-13			Dakota	The Flicker 36:52	Accepted
13:0	MOU	1965-07-31	1965-08-01	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 38:17, 38:75	Accepted
14:0	MOU	1965-10-25		Cokato	Wright	The Loon 38:52	Accepted
15:0	MOU	1966-08-06	1966-08-13	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 39:15	Accepted
16:0	MOU	1967-06-18		Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 39:128	Accepted
17:0	MOU	1968-05-30	1968-06-03	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 40:84	Accepted
18:0	MOU	1969-06-10		Buffalo River State Park	Clay		Accepted
19:0	MOU	1969-06-13		Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 41:113	Accepted
20:0	MOU	1969-10-15		Duluth	St. Louis	The Loon 42:115	Accepted
	42:76-77	1970	index			Possible Sprague's Pipit Record
	42:115-116	1970	index			Sprague's Pipit on the North Shore of Lake Superior
21:0	MOU	1970-05-23	1970-06-13	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 42:95, 40:126, 42:95, 42:110, 42:134	Accepted
22:0	MOU	1970-09-23			Wadena	The Loon 43:64	Accepted
23:0	MOU	1971-05-01		Nimrod	Wadena	The Loon 43:86	Accepted
24:0	MOU	1971-05-14		Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 43:86	Accepted
25:0	MOU	1972-05-17		St. Joseph	Stearns	The Loon 44:79	Accepted
26:0	MOU	1972-06-02	1972-10-09	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 44:79	Accepted
27:0	MOU	1973-05-26	1973-10-10	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 46:23, 46:59	Accepted
28:0	MOU	1973-06-10		near Boyd	Lac qui Parle	The Loon 46:23	Accepted
29:0	MOU	1974-04-28	1974-05-05		Rock	The Loon 46:154	Accepted
30:0	MOU	1974-07-28	1974-08-03	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 47:86	Accepted
31:0	MOU	1974-10-13	1974-10-16	Moorhead sewage lagoons	Clay	The Loon 47:86	Accepted
32:0	MOU	1975-08-10			Mahnomen	The Loon 48:101	Accepted
33:0	MOU	1975-09-28			Rock	The Loon 48:101	Accepted
34:0	MOU	1975-10-03		Pierce Lake	Martin	The Loon 48:101	Accepted
35:0	MOU	1976-05-06		Blue Mounds SP	Rock	The Loon 48:167	Accepted
36:0	MOU	1976-05-30		Marcoux	Polk	The Loon 48:167	Accepted
37:0	MOU	1977-05-25		Pembina Trail WMA	Polk	The Loon 49:222	Accepted
38:0	MOU	1977-05-27			Clay	The Loon 49:222	Accepted
39:0	MOU	1978-05-14	1978-06-07		Clay	The Loon 50:200	Accepted
40:0	MOU	1978-10-01			Wilkin	The Loon 51:93	Accepted
	51:209	1979	index			Early Migrant Sprague's Pipit in Hennepin County
41:0	MOU	1979-08-13		French L	Hennepin	The Loon 51:209, 52:80	Accepted
42:0	MOU	1979-09-29		Rothsay	Wilkin	The Loon 52:80	Accepted
	52:191-192	1980	index			Sprague's Pipit at Duluth
43:0	MOU	1980-05-23	1980-07-01	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 52:164	Accepted
44:0	MOU	1980-05-26		Duluth	St. Louis	The Loon 52:164	Accepted
45:0	MOU	1980-07-01		Section 15, Rockwell Twp	Norman	The Loon 53:142	Accepted
46:0	MOU	1980-09-07		Duluth	St. Louis	The Loon 52:191, 53:96	Accepted
47:0	MOU	1980-10-18			Wilkin		Accepted
48:0	MOU	1981-07-25		Felton	Clay	The Loon 54:23	Accepted
49:0	MOU	1983-05-01			Lac qui Parle	The Loon 55:169	Accepted
50:0	MOU	1983-06-13		Bicentennial Prairie	Clay		Accepted
51:0	MOU	1984-05-27	1984-06-04	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 56:255, 57:46	Accepted
52:1	MOU	1987-07-22	1987-08-08	Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 59:149, 60:26, 60:83	Accepted
	60:13	1987-08-17		Lake Louise S.P	Mower	(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	1988-06-01	1988-07-04		Polk	6/1-31, 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).
	60:104-108	1988	index			Sprague's Pipit Nest in Polk County
	60:187	1988	index			Sprague's Pipit in Aitkin County
53:2	61:10	1988-06-26		near Aitkin	Aitkin	(vote 5-2; The Loon 60:187).	Accepted
	avian information	1988-06-26			Aitkin	6/26 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).
54:3	MOU	1988-06-26	1988-07-24	Dugdale	Polk	The Loon 60:104–108	Accepted
	MOU	1988-07-04		near Gentilly	Polk		Not Accepted
	avian information	1990-06-01	1990-09-01		Roseau	summer, 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).
	62:167	1990	index			Sprague's Pipit in Roseau County
55:4	63:41	1990-07-28	1990-08-15	near Roseau	Roseau	(vote 7-0; The Loon 62:167).	Accepted
	MOU	1990-07-28	1990-09-01	Roseau	Roseau	The Loon 63:126	Accepted
	63:284	1991	index			Another Sprague's Pipit Sighting
56:5	MOU	1991-04-27	1991-06-01	Roseau	Roseau	The Loon 63:260	Accepted
	avian information	1991-04-27	1991-05-24		Roseau	4/27, 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.
57:6	MOU	1991-05-05		Felton prairie	Clay	The Loon 63:260	Accepted
	MOU	1991-05-24	1991-06-19	near Bixby	Roseau		Not Accepted
	MOU	1991-05-24	1991-06-19	near Bixby	Roseau		Not Accepted
58:7	64:15	1991-05-25		Badoura Twp.	Hubbard	(vote 7-0; The Loon 62:284).	Accepted
	avian information	1991-05-25			Hubbard	5/25 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.
	MOU	1991-06-01	1991-07-31	Near Roseau	Roseau	Janssen sighting. singing	Duplicate
	avian information	1991-06-01	1991-07-31		Roseau	summer Roseau (sixth state record) (third county record) Reported for second straight year in Roseau mob.
	64:231	1992	index			Sprague's Pipit in Clay County
59:8	65:33	1992-08-22		Felton Prairie	Clay	(vote 7-0; The Loon 64:231).	Accepted
60:9	MOU	1994-05-18		near Beardsley	Big Stone	The Loon 66:186, 67:56	Accepted
	avian information	1994-05-18			Big Stone	5/18 Big Stone (seventh state record) (first county record) One report: 5/18 Big Stone AH, PH.
61:10	67:45	1994-06-25		Felton Prairie	Clay	The Loon 67:31	Accepted
	67:45	1994-08-16		near Big Fork	Koochiching	The 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
	67:56-57	1995	index			Sprague's Pipit in Big Stone County
62:11	68:58	1995-05-31	1995-06-01	Kertsonville Twp	Polk	(The Loon 68:67–68), 68:50	Accepted
	avian information	1995-05-31			Polk	5/31 Polk (eighth state record) (second county record) One heard singing 5/31 Polk MCBS.
	68:67-68	1996	index			Sprague's Pipit in Polk County, 31 May - 1 June 1995
	69:152	1997-04-25		near East Grand Forks	Polk	(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
	70:44	1997-05-10		near Sabin	Clay	(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
63:12	71:36	1998-10-24	1998-10-25	Rothsay W.M.A.	Wilkin	(record #98– 88, vote 7–0, The Loon 71:53–54).	Accepted
	73:35	2000-06-18		Felton Prairie	Clay	(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
64:13	74:36	2001-09-21		Mendota Heights	Dakota	(record #2001-51, vote 7–0). Excellent written description and sketches by an experienced observer.	Accepted
	avian information	2001-09-21	2001-09-22		Dakota	9/21-22 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.
	75:41	2002-07-28		Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge	Polk	(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
	75:160	2002-09-20		Dayton	Hennepin	(record #200307, 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
65:14	76:39	2003-05-01		Morris	Stevens	(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	2003-05-01			Stevens	5/1 Stevens (tenth state record) (first county record) One seen 5/1 Stevens (Pomme de Terre City Park in Morris) †JMP.
	76:152	2004-04-07		Walter Township	Lac 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
	76:152	2004-04-26		Yellow Bank Township	Lac 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
	77:9	2004-07-27		Keene Township	Clay	(record #2004080, 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
66:15	77:9	2004-10-10	2004-10-11	Red Rock Prairie	Cottonwood	(record #2004-104, vote 7–0). One of the very few migrant Sprague's Pipits ever photographed in the state.	Accepted
	avian information	2004-10-10	2004-10-11		Cottonwood	10/10-11 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.
67:16	79:50	2006-09-17		Duluth	St. Louis	(record #2006-085, vote 6–1).	Accepted
	avian information	2006-09-17			St. Louis	9/17 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.
	83:3	2010-08-02			Becker	(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
	84:3	2011-05-05			Lac 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
68:17	84:107	2012-06-08	2012-06-29	Felton 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
69:18	87:4	2013-06-27		Old LTV Tailings Basin, (T59R14d) 7.25 miles north of Hoyt Lakes	St. 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
70:19	86:3	2013-10-18	2013-10-19	Rock Ridge Prairie S.N.A.	Cottonwood	(record #2013-059, vote 7–0).	Accepted
	avian information	2013-10-18	2013-10-19		Cottonwood	10/18-19 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.
71:20	89:3	2016-10-05		South Heron Lake	Jackson	(record #2016-038, vote 6–1).	Accepted
	avian information	2016-10-05			Jackson	10/5 Jackson (fourteenth state record) (first county record) Second fall record since 2006:10/5 Jackson (Heron Lake W.M.A.) †DAk.
	93:111	2021-08-07		Salt Lake, near Marietta	Lac 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 4 of the last 10 years, most recently 2013. State designation: Endangered.

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