Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Cassin's Sparrow
Scientific name:	Aimophila Cassinii
Date:	23 May 2001
Time:	5:45
Length of time observed:	30 Mintues
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	?
Location:	12.7 miles north of highway 50-6 approx 1 mile wast of the Nevada border. So. of Gandy, UT
County:	Millard
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	30 to 70 meters
Optical equipment:
Weather:	clear, slight wind
Light Conditions:	just before sunrise - getting fairly light.
Detailed description of bird:	An overall grayish brown sparrow with some streaking of gray or brown on the back. lighter gray unstreaked breast & throat. Fairly long tail which was rounded and dark brown. Pale outer border of the tail was visible. The most distinctive I.D. on the bird was the song. I have familiarized myself with the song listening to Petersen's bird song tapes. I have also heard the song of the other Cassin's Sparrows found in Utah in Wah Wah Valley a few years ago. The song starts with 2 notes followed by a long descending trill then ends with a short note then a higher note (see diagram). The song was given in flight usually as the bird took off from the ground.
Song or call & method of delivery:	already given in detail above
Behavior:	The bird would fly up from the ground give its song fly a short distance and land again
Habitat:	This was dust habitat. I first heard the bird in a thick greasewood area then sighted the bird beyond the greasewood in sparse desert shrub.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	I relied primarily on the song and behavior of this bird for identification. While I was able to get some visual I.D. on the bird's shape and color markings I wasn't able to get I.D. on bill size & shape or detail on facial coloration, color of lores, supercillium, etc; or other specific details. Other sparrows possibly found in the area include Brewer's (different song, no pale outer tail feathers, shorter tail, different behavior); Vesper (while it has white outer edge to feather, its paler gray, streaking on breast, different song, behavior, tail not as long or rounded). I know the Botteri's Sparrow is very similar and while I've never seen a Botteri's I know it has a different song and there are no records this far north.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I was able to observe & hear the song of the Cassin's Sparrow located in Wah Wah Valley a few years ago.
References consulted:	Peterson's Bird Songs of the West, Sibley Guide to Birds, National Geographic Field Guide to N.A. Birds
Description from:	Notes at time of sighting.
Observer:	Terry Sadler
Observer's address:	887 Germania Ave. Murray, UT 84123
Observer's e-mail address:	sadler@xmission.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	19 June 2001
Additional material:	Original Document