Ammospiza leconteii
Status: Fairly common regular spring and fall migrant east and east-central, rare west-central, accidental west. Rare casual winter visitor.
Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7313, 20 Apr 1901 Havelock, Lancaster Co.
Taxonomy: This species and Nelson’s Sparrow were moved from Ammodramus to the new genus Ammospiza based on genetic studies that indicated former Ammodramus was paraphyletic (Chesser et al 2018).
No subspecies are currently recognized (Gill et al 2022).
The correct spelling “LeConte’s” was discussed by Chesser et al (2017).
Spring: Apr 15, 15, 16 <<<>>> May 19, 20, 20
Earlier dates are 5 Mar 2000 Clay Co (Jorgensen 2012), 9 Mar 2016 Peru Bottoms WMA, Nemaha Co, 13 Mar 2010 Rowe Sanctuary, Buffalo Co, 17 Mar 1909 a specimen (UNSM ZM10448) taken in Lancaster Co, 18 Mar 2018 Saunders Co, 23 Mar 2018 Buffalo Co, 31 Mar (Swenk, Notes Before 1925), 2 Apr 1909 Lancaster Co (specimen, UNSM ZM12194), 7 Apr 2013 Saunders Co, 10 Apr 2019 Douglas Co, and 12 Apr 2019 Buffalo Co.
Earlier dates may be of very early migrants or birds that wintered nearby; arrival of migrants in Kansas is in mid-Mar (Thompson et al 2011).
Migration is from mid-Apr through mid-May. See Winter.
Westerly reports are 15 May 2009 Frye Lake, Grant Co, 17 May 2010 Avocet WMA, Grant Co, 18 May 2018 Keya Paha Co, and 19 May 2021 Blaine Co.
Fall: Sep 17, 18, 18 <<<>>> Nov 7, 8, 8
Earlier dates are 27 Aug 2011 Lancaster Co (photo), 13 Sep 2018 Rock Co, and 13 Sep 2020 Lancaster Co.
Later dates are 10 Nov 2015 Clay Co, 10 Nov 2021 Lancaster Co, 7-12 Nov 2016 Sarpy Co, 14 Nov 2016 Lancaster Co, 15 Nov 2015 Lancaster Co, and 26 Nov 2016 Douglas Co.
Migration is from late Sep through late Oct.
Westerly reports are Rock Co 13 Sep 2018, Crescent Lake NWR, Garden Co 19 Sep 1968, the only Panhandle record for the species, Brown Co 19 Sep 1982, Custer Co 26 Sep 2021, Lincoln Co 28 Sep 1934 (Tout 1947), two juveniles in Custer Co 1-8 Oct 2012, Red Willow Co 7 Oct 2002, and Custer Co 10 Oct 2009.
- High counts: 158 at Harvard Marsh 19 Oct 2009, 50 at Spring Creek Prairie 18 Oct 2008, 40 at Jack Sinn Memorial WMA, Lancaster Co 27 Oct 1998, and 40 at Kirkpatrick Basin North WMA, York Co 18 Sep 1999 (Jorgensen 2012).
Winter: The only winter (Dec-Feb) records are 17 Dec 2020 Branched Oak-Seward CBC, Lancaster Co, 30 Nov-5 Jan 2020-2021 Douglas Co (photo), and 12 Feb 2013 Douglas Co (Silcock 2013).
This species winters regularly in eastern Kansas (Thompson et al 2011; eBird.org, accessed Dec 2023).
Images
Abbreviations
CBC: Christmas Bird Count
NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
WMA: Wildlife Management Area (State)
Literature Cited
Chesser, R.T., K.J. Burns, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J.D. Rising, D.F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2017. Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 134: 751-773.
Chesser, R.T., K.J. Burns, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D.F. Stotz, B.M. Winger, and K. Winker. 2018. Fifty-ninth Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 135: 798-813.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Jorgensen, J.G. 2012. Birds of the Rainwater Basin, Nebraska. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Silcock, W.R. 2013. Winter Field Report, December 2012 to February 2013. NBR 81: 2-20.
Swenk, M.H. Notes before 1925. Bird notes from A.M. Brooking of Hastings, C.A. Black of Kearney, and B.J. Olson of Kearney, based chiefly on their collections, up to January 1, 1925. Typed manuscript in the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Archives, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Thompson, M.C., C.A. Ely, B. Gress, C. Otte, S.T. Patti, D. Seibel, and E.A. Young. 2011. Birds of Kansas. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Tout, W. 1947. Lincoln County birds. Published by the author, North Platte, Nebraska, USA.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2023. LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 31 Dec 2023