Documents • Iowa State University • Avian Archives of Iowa Online

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

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 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 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 Vesper Sparrow in Des Moines County, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow in Des Moines County, IA on December 16, 1989.	Fuller, James L	Vesper Sparrow	Des Moines County	7 miles north of Burlington (Des Moines County)	Agricultural land	The documentation form by Jim Fuller is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Charles Fuller and Jane Fuller. \| Elimination of similar species: Song Sparrow - no breast spot on this bird and Vesper has less breast streaking + also white outer tail feathers. Savannah Sparrow does not have as prominent eye ring and no white outer tail feathers. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 15:05:00/15:10:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow northeast of Ames, 1989	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1989-12-16	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow northeast of Ames in Story County, IA on December 16, 1989.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Vesper Sparrow	Ames	5 mi. east and 2 mi. north of Ames, Story Co., IA	sitting on gravel road in agricultural area	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Andy Fix. \| Elimination of similar species: The white eye ring, tail pattern, pattern of streaking on the breast, and habitat eliminates other sparrows, especially Savannah, Song, and Lincoln's. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 14:40:00/14:56:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow in Cerro Gordo County, 1994	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1994-12-17	1994-12-19	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow in Cerro Gordo County, IA on December 17, 1994.	Goranson, Rita	Vesper Sparrow	Cerro Gordo County	220th St. + Violet, Cerro Gordo Co, IA	Farmland near a farmstead	The documentation form by Rita Goranson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Joel Hanes. \| Elimination of similar species: not a junco - not the color of not a meadowlark - too small not a longspur - did not have the eye line + lighter eyebrow like longspurs no face patch effect \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:20:00/10:25:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow around Jamaica, 1996	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1996-12-20	1996-12-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow around Jamaica in Guthrie County, IA on December 20, 1996.	Cummins, Raymond L.	Vesper Sparrow	Jamaica	Jamaica CBC, Guthrie Co. IA	Roadside	The documentation form by Bob Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Maridel Jackson. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:00:00/10:02:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
Rare bird documentation form for Vesper Sparrow near Colo, 1985	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1985-03-07	1985-05-26	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Vesper Sparrow near Colo in Story County, IA on March 7, 1985.	Martsching, Paul	Vesper Sparrow	Colo	near Colo (along old hi way 30) Story County, Iowa	pasture or weedy fields on either side of road.	The documentation form by Paul Martsching is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: meadowlark is fat with short wide tail; Junco doesn't have stripes on back; Tree sparrow has narrow white edges on tail, but also has rusty cap; Smith's Longpsur has similar tail pattern, but tail is shorter, back markings finer, doesn't have rusty patch on wing; Water Pipit doesn't have streaked back. \| The original documentation form event occurred around 11:30:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	52
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 Lark Sparrow south of Mystic, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-12-22	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Sparrow south of Mystic in Appanoose County, IA on December 22, 1981.	Cummings, William G.	Lark Sparrow	Mystic	Appanoose County - South of Mystic	Shrub - Fence row Brush	The documentation form by William G. Cummings is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Tree & Song Sparrow also English Sparrow because of size & markings \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:15:00/09:20:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	53
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting east of Sweet Marsh in 1981	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1981-05-13	1981-05-14	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Bunting east of Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 13, 1981.	Moore, Francis L.	Lark Bunting	Sweet Marsh				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting east of Sweet Marsh, 1981	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1981-05-13	1981-05-14	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Bunting east of Sweet Marsh in Bremer County, IA on May 13, 1981.	Myers, Robert K.	Lark Bunting	Sweet Marsh	1 mile east of Sweet Marsh	General: gravel road on east edge of Sweet Marsh Specific: roadside ditch area	The documentation form by Robert K. Myers is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Francis Moore. \| Elimination of similar species: Bobolink has white back + rump + gold back of neck + not as much white on wings. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 09:30:00/09:40:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting near Pinky's Glen, 1982	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1982-05-04	1982-05-05	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Bunting near Pinky's Glen in Fremont County, IA on May 4, 1982.	Phipps, Ruth O.	Lark Bunting	Pinky's Glen	Fremont Co. near Pinky's Glen Co. Park	General: Prairie Specific: Grasslands	The documentation form by Ruth Phipps is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: The male Bobolink has white patches and is black, but the patches are not on the wings \| The original documentation form event occurred around 10:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting east of Hawarden in 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-05-24	1984-06-07	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Bunting east of Hawarden in Sioux County, IA on May 24, 1984.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Lark Bunting	Hawarden				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting southeast of Hawarden, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-05-24	1984-05-25	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Lark Bunting southeast of Hawarden in Sioux County, IA on May 24, 1984.	Silcock, W. Ross	Lark Bunting	Hawarden	5 mi e, 1 mi s, JCT 10+12 in Hawarden, Sioux Co, Iowa	Farmland	The documentation form by Ross Silcock is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. Other observers include Thomas Kent. \| Elimination of similar species: Bobolink- No white on head or back. Small bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:08:00/10:08:05.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Rare bird documentation form for Lark Bunting in Garfield Township in Sioux County, 1984	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1984-06-14	1984-09-13	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for two Lark Buntings in Garfield Township in Sioux County, IA on June 14, 1984.	Thompson, Carol A.	Lark Bunting	Garfield Township	Fairview QUad T96N R47W Sec 17/20 Sioux Cnty [sic]	Upper terrace between Big Sioux and Rock River, unplanted semi-plowed field at time, high water conditions	The documentation form by Carol Thompson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Bobolink - did not have light patch on back of head nor any white in body or rump. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 15:30:00/15:45:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	54
Woodward H. Brown letter to Fred Kent about birding sightings for the fall and winter of 1966 and a Christmas Bird Count, January 4, 1967	Correspondence Field notes	Bird feeders Bird watching Birds--Identification Rare birds Sturnidae \| Starlings Calcariidae \| Longspurs and snow bunting	1966-08-01	1967-01-04	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter sent on January 4, 1967 by Woodward H. Brown to Fred Kent discussing bird sightings during the fall and winter of 1966 and a Christmas Bird Count. It features a discussion of Savannah Sparrows.	Brown, Woodward H.	Savannah Sparrow Purple Finch Redhead American Tree Sparrow Red-breasted Nuthatch Dark-eyed Junco	Des Moines				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	55
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 Savannah Sparrow at Anderson Township in Mills County in 1984	Field notes	Bird feeders Birds--Identification Rare birds	1984-03-17	1984-05-26	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Rare bird documentation form for a Savannah Sparrow at Anderson Township in Mills County, IA from March 17-20, 1984.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Savannah Sparrow	Anderson Township				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	55
Rare bird documentation form for Savannah Sparrow at Bays Branch Wildlife Management Area, 1987	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1987-01-08	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Savannah Sparrow at Bays Branch Wildlife Management Area in Guthrie County, IA on January 8, 1987.	Dinsmore, Stephen J.	Savannah Sparrow	Bays Branch State Wildlife Area	Bays Branch WMA, Guthrie Co. (NW parking lot)	walking around on parking lot and mowed grassy area next to the lot	The documentation form by Steve Dinsmore is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Grasshopper Sparrow (very unlikely in winter) was eliminated by the longer tail and lack of a flat crown. Vesper Sparrow eliminated by the yellow lores, streaking across the entire breast, and lack of white outer tail feathers. Song Sparrow eliminated by smaller size, yellow lores, and overall lighter coloration. All longspurs eliminated by the lack of any white on the tail. \| The original documentation form event lasted from 10:50:00/11:00:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	55
1-25-98 Savannah Sparrow Warren Co.	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Rare birds	1998-01-25	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report from Aaron Brees for a Savannah Sparrow in Warren County, IA on January 25, 1998.	Brees, Aaron	Savannah Sparrow	Warren County				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	55
Rare bird documentation form for Grasshopper Sparrow west of North Liberty, 1977	Field notes	Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1977-10-29	N/A	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Grasshopper Sparrow west of North Liberty in Johnson County, IA on October 29, 1977.	Kent, Thomas H. (Thomas Hugh), 1934-	Grasshopper Sparrow	North Liberty	3 miles west of North Liberty IA between H and Swan Lake roads	General: open fields with small brushy area near roadside. Flock of savannah sparrows in brushy area. Specific: Bird on fence by combined corn field.	The documentation form by Thomas H Kent is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Henslow's sparrow-this bird did not have color on wing. LaConte's sparrow-lacked face pattern and streaking. Vesper sparrow-seen in same area 1 week before-not similar to this bird. \| The original documentation form event lasted from approximately 11:00:00/11:05:00.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	56
Rare bird documentation form for Grasshopper Sparrow at Willow Slough, 1980	Field notes	Birds--Behavior Birds--Identification Ornithology Rare birds	1980-11-05	1980-12-10	Rare birds documentation form	Rare bird documentation form for a Grasshopper Sparrow at Willow Slough in Mills County, IA on November 5, 1980.	Wilson, Barbara L.	Grasshopper Sparrow	Willow Slough State Game Management Area	Willow Slough, Iowa	weedy old field, brush nearby but it was in the weedy grass	The documentation form by Barbara L. Wilson is the only one submitted and forms the basis of this record. \| Elimination of similar species: Le Conte's Sparrow - eliminated by lack of orange, + by lack of streaks on side of breast Henslow's - eliminated by nape streaks, but it's hard to be sure. Perhaps the difference in color between a Henslow's face + Grasshopper's face would be hard to tell in a backlit bird. Looked pale, though. \| The original documentation form event occurred in the afternoon for five minutes or more.	Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	56
Field Notes, Tom Morrissey, Davenport, 1956	Field notes	Birds--Identification Radio and television tower bird strikes Rare birds Zoological specimens	1954-10-06	1956-06-02	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Field report with drawings for recovered birds at the WOC radio tower at Davenport in Scott County, IA on October 6, 1954, May 12 and 18, 1956, and June 1, 1956. It features the sighting of a Henslow's Sparrow on October 6, 1954. It was part of a letter from Thomas Morrisey to Robert L. King on June 2, 1956 and is part of the F.W. Kent Archives.	Morrissey, Thomas	Henslow's Sparrow Ovenbird Blackpoll Warbler	WOC-AM (Davenport)				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	57
Fred Lesher letter to Fred Kent regarding bird sightings, June 26, 1965	Correspondence Field notes	Bird banding Bird watching Birds--Identification Photography of birds Rare birds Camping	1965-06-26	N/A	Manuscript, graphic, and printed material	Letter by Fred Lesher regarding various bird sightings, personal matters, and banding Henslow's Sparrows near Decorah.	Lesher, Fred	Least Bittern Yellow-headed Blackbird Henslow's Sparrow Common Moorhen Savannah Sparrow Black-crowned Night Heron Cliff Swallow	Cardinal Marsh State Wildlife Area Decorah Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Area Bluffton Fir Stand State Preserve				Iowa Ornithologists' Union \| MS 166	35	57