Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-11

Common name:

Thick-billed Longspur
Scientific name: Rhynchophanes mccownii
Date: 02/15/25
Time: roughly 10am
Length of time observed: 2 minutes or so
Number: 1
Age: 1st winter? Lacking rufous wing patch
Sex: unsure. would love input
Location: Howell Valley
County: Box Elder
Latilong:  
Elevation:  
Distance to bird: 25 Ft roughly
Optical equipment: viewed through Leupold SX-4 20-60x85
Weather: sunny, light breeze, 8" of snow on the ground from the night before.
Light Conditions: bright.
Description:        Size of bird: sparrow sized bird.
(Description:)       Basic Shape: Basic sparrow shape.
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: Very plain overall, tan, with pink bill
(Description:)            Bill Type: large sparrow like, pink bill.
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:

First seen in the middle of the road with a large group of HOLA's. bulky, large headed sparrow like bird with a large pink bill. Overall rather non-descript, but with a cream colored supercilium and mustache. seemed to have a faint light eye ring, and a very faint dark V band in the chest. some dark streaking in the back and wings but lacking rufous in the shoulder.
(see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery: heard one or two rattle calls, sounding similar to a LALO rattle but less dry, reminds me somewhat of a fast pacific wren call.
Behavior: Quick foraging on the road with LALO's. picked up with the flock after a few minutes and was never seen again that day.
Habitat: Grassy AG fields in Howell valley.
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:		 LALO; this bird was much plainer than expected for LALO, as well as showing a thick pink bill, and a faint dark V band. all things pointing away from LALO.
CCLO; Somewhat similar to a nonbreeding CCLO Female, but lighter and lacking buff coloration, as well as a much bigger pink bill.
Previous experience with
this & similar species:		 this was a lifer for me. Multiple LALO's seen before, and two CCLO's previously.
 
References consulted: Sibley, Merlin sound recordings.
Description from: Notes taken at the time of the sighting
From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer: McKay Olson
Observer's address:  
Observer's e-mail address: **
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Esther Sumner, and many others over the remaining month. seemingly multiple present at Howell during that time.
 
Date prepared: 03/14/25
Additional material:

Photos
Additional comments: An amazing day at Howell, seeing the "trifecta' of Longspurs in the day.