Birds of North Carolina - their Distribution and Abundance

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

PASSERELLIDAE Members:

Clay-colored Sparrow 503

General Comments

The Clay-colored Sparrow was primarily a "Western"/Midwestern" species until a few decades ago. However, the breeding range expanded eastward to southern Ontario and western New York, as birds took advantage of using Christmas tree farms and other early succession habitats. Not surprisingly, sightings in the Southeast have increased, even though nearly all birds still pass on to winter south of the country, mainly in Mexico. Interestingly, small numbers linger into early winter near the coast, and a few even overwinter. Despite being closer to the main part of the breeding range, Clay-coloreds remain very rare in the mountains and Piedmont of the state. The species is most often found with groups of Field Sparrows, and other sparrows, usually at brush piles, hedgerows, weedy fields, and margins of maritime shrub thickets.

Breeding Status

Nonbreeder

NC BRC List

Definitive

State Status

none

U.S. Status

Definitive

State Rank

Global Rank

Coastal Plain

Transient, and sparse winter resident, mainly near the coast. In fall, rare to uncommon along the coast and in Tidewater; can be occasionally uncommon at Pea Island and Fort Fisher. Casual to very rare farther inland in fall. In winter, rare and local into early winter near the coast and in Tidewater, and casual to very rare farther inland; formerly regular just west of Lake Phelps, and presently in central Carteret, where a few overwinter. Essentially no northbound migration, though one seen at the Moore County Airport on 9 Apr 2019 was certainly a northbound migrant, as was one photographed in the Sandhills Game Land (Scotland) on 3 Apr 2022. Only a few other inland spring records anywhere in the province. Mainly mid-Sep to early Nov, but some into late Apr. Peak counts: 23, North River Farms (Carteret), 10 Feb 2013; 17 at this location, 15 Feb 2015 and again on 19 Apr 2015; 16 at this location, 20 Feb 2011; 10, just west of Lake Phelps, 11 Mar 2013; 9, Pea Island, 11 Oct 1998.

Piedmont

Transient, essentially in fall and winter. Very rare in fall and winter (about 25 records in fall and 16 in winter). Casual to very rare in spring: singles at Fuquay-Varina, 15 Mar - 20 Apr 1990; at Cowan's Ford Refuge (Mecklenburg), 5 May 2001; again at that refuge, 1 May 2018; at Price Park (Guilford), 23 Apr 2019; in the Uwharrie National Forest (Randolph), 21-22 Apr 2020; at two yard/feeder sites in Wake from 23-26 Apr 2021; in Lincoln, 20 Mar 2024; and in Wake, 28 Mar 2025. Mainly mid-Oct to mid-Nov, but a few into winter. One photographed in Maiden (Catawba) on 26 Sep 2020, and one seen at Howerton Road (Guilford) on 30 Sep 2018 were early for inland records. One spent three winters in Lenoir (Caldwell); in the third year it was present from 16 Oct 2006 to 24 Apr 2007 (Chat 71:94). Another spent much of the winter at Raleigh from 2 Jan - 4 Feb 2024; presumably the same bird was seen again on 26 Apr 2024. Peak counts: 2, Iredell, 17 Jan 2010.

Mountain

Transient. Very rare in fall, winter, and spring, nearly all records in low elevations in the southern counties. Northern records all seem to be from Watauga -- one photographed in Boone on 3 May 2014, another photographed in Boone on 16 Oct 2016, another photographed out of season at Moses Cone Park on 20 Jul 2024, and another seen at Boone on 15-16 Oct 2024. In fall, about 17 reports from 5 Sep - 20 Oct, and twice in Nov; two winter reports (Dec and Jan), and six spring reports, all in the last half of Apr. One photographed at 5,200 feet elevation at the Grassy Mine Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway (Jackson) on 30 Sep 2021 was at a remarkably high location. Peak counts: 2, on several dates.

Finding Tips

Your best bet is probably Fort Fisher in Sep and Oct. A few were being seen semi-regularly in winter just west of Lake Phelps, but these birds have been difficult to find in the past few years. Though it seems to winter routinely, in small numbers, at North River Farms (Carteret), this is a privately-owned site, though it can be accessed by the public with a long walk to reach suitable habitat.