Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
PASSERELLIDAE Members: Cassin's Sparrow 12232
General Comments
The Cassin's Sparrow is a bird of the southern Great Plains, and though it is similar in appearance to other Peucaea sparrows, it has a trait that few other North American songbirds share -- a "skylarking" song. Thus, most of the songs it gives are in flight and not while perched; this a is trait limited mainly to birds of extensive open country, such as Horned Larks and pipits. It seldom strays eastward, and in the spring and early summer of 2011, almost certainly a result of the horrific drought in that part of the continent, a few Cassin's Sparrows strayed east of Texas. Its breeding habitat is mainly dry grasslands with scattered shrubs, and this is somewhat the habitat that was used by a bird singing, on territory(!), in North Carolina in 2011, a remarkable first state record (Chat 76:125-27).
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SA
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Accidental. One singing male was present in northern Scotland from 20 Apr - 6 May 2011* (Chat 76:125-27); (Chat 75:135); (Chat 76:4). During this time it was photographed and videotaped, including videos of the bird skylarking. Numerous photographs are on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery.
Piedmont
No records.
Mountain
No records.
Finding Tips