Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

Title	Genres	Topics	Date (Start)	Date (End)	Type	Description	Creator/Author	Birds	Locations	Locality	Remarks

Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-01-05	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on January 5, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Vesper Sparrow	Hastings	5 miles north + 1 1/2 miles west of Hastings, Mills County, Iowa	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: A good size brown sparrow with white outer tail feathers is likely to be a Vesper Sparrow except in winter. I probably wouldn't call this one if I hadn't seen it better before + after. \| The original documentation form event occurred around mid-morning.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Pine Siskin at Anderson Township in Mills County, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Pine Siskin at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA on May 15, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Pine Siskin	Anderson Township	Ben Wilson's farm: T-73N, R-40W, Sec. 30, Mills Co., Ia.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Uniform brown streaks on face eliminate Purple Finch, as does the thin bill. Sparrows are similar, usually have stouter bill + are less uniformly streaked - they have dark streaks on light underparts, + this one is just streaked all over. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for at most a minute.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	85
Rare bird documentation form for Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Great-tailed Grackle south of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on May 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Great-tailed Grackle	Council Bluffs	Off I-29 at south Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa.	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent and Jim Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) with more rounded crown, characteristic call notes, much less likely to occur in Iowa. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) much smaller, different call notes, female lacks rich brown foreparts and superciliary stripe. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 09:00:00/09:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	77
Rare bird documentation form for Brewer's Blackbird near Mason City, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-04-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for eleven Brewer's Blackbirds near Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on April 23, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Brewer's Blackbird	Mason City	near Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Comparison made to Comm. Grackle above. Unlikely habitat and date for Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolingus). \| The original documentation form event occurred in the late afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	76
Rare bird documentation form for Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs, 1978	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1978-02-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, IA on February 26, 1978.	Greer, Janet	Yellow-headed Blackbird	Council Bluffs	Feeder at 341 Steven Circle, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501	The documentation form by Janet Greer is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include the Greer family. \| Elimination of similar species: There are none. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:00:00/13:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	75
Rare bird documentation form for an unidentified Grosbeak at Anderson Township in Mills County, 1979	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1979-09-08	1979-11-30	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for an unidentified Grosbeak at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA on September 8, 1979.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Cardinal-Grosbeaks	Anderson Township	Wilson farm: T73-N, R-41W, Sec 26, NE Mills County, Ia.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: these are Rose-breasted Grosbeaks or Blackheaded Grosbeaks. Or hybrids. Unfortunately, the identification depends on things I do not know. Ruth Green informs me that some Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in early September are so orange on the breast one would think them Black-headeds. Are these young Rose-breasted? What about the call? Do Rose-breasted Grosbeaks make a lower-pitched call, more mellow than the distinctive high-pitched call that is the only one I know for them? If you know, please tell me. These were odd-looking grosbeaks but I can't really identify them. \| The original documentation form events occurred around 08:45:00 and in the afternoon.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	69
Rare bird documentation form for Lincoln's Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-05	1983-02-27	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lincoln's Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on January 5, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Lincoln's Sparrow	Hastings	Wilson Farm, N.E. Mills County, Iowa	The documentation form by Barbara Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Distinguished from adult Song Sparrow by buffy breast + fine breast streaks, from young one by eye ring + general face pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 16:00:00/16:23:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	61
Rare bird documentation form for Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Lost Lake in Boone County, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-23	1981-06-03	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Lost Lake in Boone County, IA on May 23, 1981.	Brown, Gordon	Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Lost Lake	Upper ledges at Lost Lake	The documentation form by Gordon Brown is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include George Brown.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	59
Rare bird documentation form for Henslow's Sparrow near Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Rare birds	1992-05-09	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Henslow's Sparrow near Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Van Buren County, IA on May 9, 1992.	Fuller, James L	Henslow's Sparrow	Lacey-Keosauqua State Park	Grassy field near Lacey-Keosauqua SP, Van Buren County.	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:10:00/09:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	57
Rare bird documentation form for Henslow's Sparrow at Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Birdsongs Ornithology Ornithology--Technique Rare birds	1982-04-30	1982-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Henslow's Sparrow at Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Louisa County, IA on April 30, 1982.	Staudt, Thomas J.	Henslow's Sparrow	Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area	Cone Marsh Louisa County Iowa	The documentation form by Thomas J. Staudt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include James Huntington, Carl Bendorf, Thomas Kent, and Ross Silcock. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 08:30:00/09:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	57
Rare bird documentation form for Savannah Sparrow north of Lucas, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-19	1982-01-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Savannah Sparrow north of Lucas in Lucas County, IA on December 19, 1981.	Gilbert, Bill H. Gilbert, Mary Ann	Savannah Sparrow	Lucas	Two to three miles north of Lucas, Iowa, on roadside	The documentation form by Bill Gilbert and Mary Ann Gilbert is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] Distinctive yellow stripe running to back of head eliminated other species. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 11:00:00/11:15:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	55
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow west of McFarland Park in Story County, 1990	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1990-12-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow west of McFarland Park in Story County, IA on December 15, 1990.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Vesper Sparrow	McFarland Lake Park	1 mi. w. of McFarland Park, Story Co., IA	The documentation form by Stephen J. Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Gordon Brown, George Brown, and John Mayfield. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:04:00/15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-01-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on January 7, 1982.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Vesper Sparrow	Hastings	5 miles North 1 1/2 miles west of Hastings, Iowa Mills Co.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White outer tail feathers + face pattern = Vesper sparrow. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:33:00/10:36:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Big Creek Lake, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-01-15	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Big Creek Lake in Polk County, IA on January 15, 1983.	Bray, Tanya Rose, B.J. Bray, Don Rose, Sharon	Northern Goshawk	Big Creek Lake	Big Creek Lake, Polk County	The documentation form by Tanya Bray, Don Bray, B.J. Rose, and Sharon Rose is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 15:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-23	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northwest of Hastings in Mills County, IA on December 23, 1981.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Vesper Sparrow	Hastings	5 miles North, 1 1/2 miles west of Hasings, [sic] Iowa Mills County	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: White outer tail feathers on a streaked Sparrow suggests strongly Vesper Sparrow. Lapland Longsurs have white over tail feathers, but lack the white eye ring, are streaked on the sides but not, or only faintly, across the breast. Longspurs do not typically sit in trees. Longspurs have short tails, too. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:30:00/10:33:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Summer Tanager at Algona, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-11-05	1999-11-07	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Summer Tanager at Algona in Kossuth County, IA on November 5, 1999.	Kenne, Matthew C.	Summer Tanager	Algona	at birdbath in my backyard [...] 709 N. Phillips, Algona, Iowa 50511	The documentation form by Matthew Kenne is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include his family. \| Elimination of similar species: [...] The thick, blunt bill shape and larger bill size eliminates warblers and vireos, and it was a larger bird than those by comparison with the Cardinal. Female Scarlet Tanager is eliminated by the lack of olive tones to the plumage, especially in the wing, which was the same color as the back and not darker. The reddish tinge to the yellow on parts of the bird is consistent with some female Summer Tanagers, but not Scarlet Tanager. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:05:00/17:06:00 on November 5, 1999 and around 07:50:00 on November 7, 1999.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	44
Rare bird documentation form for Hooded Warbler at MacNiders Woods in Mason City, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-05-07	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Hooded Warbler at MacNiders Woods in Mason City in Cerro Gordo County, IA on May 7 and May 8, 1994.	Rinehart, Rick	Hooded Warbler	MacNiders Woods	Macnider Woods Park, Mason City, Iowa	The documentation form by Rick Rinehart is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: [...]It was similar in size to the plentiful Yellow Rumped Warbler, but with the unaided eye it was unmistakably a male Hooded Warbler. [...] No similar species were noted. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/10:30:00 on May 7, 1994 and 12:30:00/13:30:00 on May 8, 1994.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	41
Rare bird documentation form for Connecticut Warbler in Mills County, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-05-26	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Connecticut Warbler in Mills County, IA on May 26, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Connecticut Warbler	Mills County	Wilson farm, N.E. Mills Co., Iowa	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Resembles the fall Mourning Warbler plumage. In fact, I must say this is either a female Connecticut Warbler in Spring plumage or a Mourning that retains fall plumage. I did not see if the eye ring is broken or not, nor the extent to which the under tail coverts cover the tail feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 09:00:00/09:01:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	39
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Willow Slough, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-11-23	1984-11-28	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on November 23, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Golden Eagle	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Mills County, Iowa, near Willow Slough	The documentation form by Barb Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Young Bald Eagles are similar but usually mottled with light feathers. They have white on the under wing coverts, not the bases of the flight feathers, & they do not have the neat tail pattern. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:30:00/15:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-09-28	1980-10-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Golden Eagle at Sunken Grove State Park in Pocahontas County, IA on September 28, 1980.	Harms, Ronald	Golden Eagle	Sunken Grove State Game Management Area	Sunken Grove State Park, Pocahontas Co.	The documentation form by Ronald Harms is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Pat Harms and Don Winkler. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 13:30:00/13:32:30.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	31
Rare bird documentation form for Rough-legged Hawk at Pool Slough, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-05-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Rough-legged Hawk at Pool Slough north of New Albin in Allamakee County, IA on May 8, 1999.	Lesher, Fred	Rough-legged Hawk	Pool Slough	Pool Slough north of Army Road, New Albin, Iowa.	The documentation form by Fred Lesher is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 17:00:00/17:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	30
Rare bird documentation form for Red-tailed Hawk near Fraser, 1999	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1999-01-01	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Red-tailed Hawk on the Big Eddy portion of Des Moines River east of Fraser in Boone County, IA on January 1, 1999.	Healy, Kevin	Red-tailed Hawk	Fraser	Big Eddy portion of Des Moines River about 1 mile east of Fraser IA.	The documentation form by Kevin Healy is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Rosanne Healy, Amy Yoakum, and Molly Havlik. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	29
Rare bird documentation form for Broad-winged Hawk at Grammer Grove, 1995	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1995-10-21	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Broad-winged Hawk at Grammer Grove in Marshall County, IA on October 21, 1995.	Proescholdt, Beth	Broad-winged Hawk	Grammer Grove County Wildlife Area	Grammer Grove	The documentation form by Beth Proescholdt is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Jim Sinclair, Mark Proescholdt, and Rick Trieff. \| Elimination of similar species: When we saw a barred tail at first we thought 'Red-shouldered', but realized it was a Broadwing tail, with the wider, darker subterminal hand of an adult - distinctly different from the Red-shouldered's even-width dark bands + more narrow white bands. \| The original documentation form event lasted for four and a half hours.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	27
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, 1992	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1992-10-03	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City in Johnson County, IA on October 3, 1992.	Pinkston, Randall, 1956-	Northern Goshawk	Oakland Cemetery	Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa	The documentation form by Randall Pinkston is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Wings proportionately longer and narrower than either Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawks', distinctly broad at secondaries, narrowing at primaries. Tail too long for any Buteo, proportionately shorter than other accipiters or N. Harrier. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:25:00/10:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25
Rare bird documentation form for Northern Goshawk at Hastings, 1983	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1983-11-26	1983-11-29	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Northern Goshawk at the John Wilson farm in Hastings in Mills County, IA on November 26, 1983.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Northern Goshawk	Hastings	John Wilson farm, NE Mills County, Ia.	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tail too long + flight too quick + direct for a Red-tail. Wings rounded - not a falcon. Young accipiter (+ many buteos) would be streaked below. Adult accipiters of other kinds would be barred below, but reddish or brown, not gravy. Marsh Hawk would fly with a more leisurely pace + have longer wings. As I saw it, identifications went clicking through my brains one after another. Red tail? No.. Marsh Hawk! - No ... Coopers Hawk! Yes - no - its gray! I certainly did not expect a Goshawk.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	33	25