Cassin’s Sparrow
Peucaea cassinii
The Cassin’s Sparrow is a year-round resident near the border with Mexico. We find the in southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, most of western and central Texas, and much of northern Mexico. In spring and summer, some will migrate north into eastern Colorado, and western Kansas and Nebraska. They prefer arid brushy grasslands. In the breeding season, the males perform an aerial display called “Skylarking”. They fly to great heights and float down on stiffened wings, singing all the while.
Since its discovery in 1852, scientists have shuffled this bird through many genus assignments. Zonotrichia, Peucaea, Aimophila (or what some call the botterii complex), and finally in 2010, back to Peucaea, based on genetic studies.
There are no recognised subspecies of Cassin’s Sparrow (i.e. they are monotypic).
The population of these birds varies in some regions from year to year. Researchers believe the absence or abundance of rainfall affects the seasonal population.
I first met Cassin’s Sparrows in Arizona. Later, in 2020, I met a single bird when I stopped along a Texas highway to photograph a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher. I saw it while speeding down the road towards Harlingen. Then I heard the sparrow’s plaintiff song, which gave it away, and I captured the bird on a wire (apologies to Leonard Cohen). My best meeting with these birds happened the day I left Texas and was exploring Bitter Lake NWR outside of Roswell (New Mexico).
My most recent encounter was near Marathon, north of Big Bend National Park. I stopped to spend time at a “picnic area” and found these birds “skylarking” over the nearby fields. Wen I first heard their songs, I looked in vain for perched birds. Then I remembered hearing stories of their flight songs and I, eventually found them in the air.
23 Photos
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 12:48 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D722731-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 12:48 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D722725-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 15:33 |
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Location:
Amado |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727049-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 15:23 |
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Location:
Amado |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727010-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 15:23 |
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Location:
Amado |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727000-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 15:23 |
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Location:
Amado |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726994-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Near the I-10 at the exit for US-191(N) between Wilcox and Bowie Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 10:33 |
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Location:
Luzena |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726985-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 15:35 |
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Location:
Amado |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727075-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 15:34 |
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Location:
Amado |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727054-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: I met Cassin’s Sparrows in Texas and Arizona before visiting this location, but these birds provided some intimate encounters. A few miles east of Roswell, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, is Bitter Lake NWR. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:11 9:50 |
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Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D505943-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: I stopped beside the highway on my drive to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. Though it was a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher that caught my eye, this sparrow caught my ear. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 9:18 |
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Location:
Riviera |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D506128-Sarita-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: I enjoyed my Monday morning visit to Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell, New Mexico so much, I decided to spend Tuesday morning there as well. I found these Cassin's Sparrows were even more cooperative than they were on Monday. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:12 8:17 |
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Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D506494-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: I enjoyed my Monday morning visit to Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell, New Mexico so much, I decided to spend Tuesday morning there as well. I found these Cassin's Sparrows were even more cooperative than they were on Monday. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:12 8:22 |
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Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D506516-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: I enjoyed my Monday morning visit to Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell, New Mexico so much, I decided to spend Tuesday morning there as well. I found these Cassin's Sparrows were even more cooperative than they were on Monday. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:12 8:28 |
|
Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D506544-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: I enjoyed my Monday morning visit to Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell, New Mexico so much, I decided to spend Tuesday morning there as well. I found these Cassin's Sparrows were even more cooperative than they were on Monday. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:12 8:28 |
|
Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D506562-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: I enjoyed my Monday morning visit to Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell, New Mexico so much, I decided to spend Tuesday morning there as well. I found these Cassin's Sparrows were even more cooperative than they were on Monday. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:12 8:28 |
|
Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D506574-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: I enjoyed my Monday morning visit to Bitter Lake NWR near Roswell, New Mexico so much, I decided to spend Tuesday morning there as well. I found these Cassin's Sparrows were even more cooperative than they were on Monday. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:12 8:28 |
|
Location:
Bitter Lake NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_D506584-BitterLake-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Texas Roadside Rests, sometimes called ‘Picnic Areas’ can be worthwhile places to meet rural birds. I stayed at the Picnic Area 20 miles east of Marathon while traveling to the Davis Mountains. Skylarking Cassin’s Sparrows put on a show for me. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:03 18:17 |
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Location:
26260 US-90 Rest Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_Z9X8371_MarathonRestArea-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Texas Roadside Rests, sometimes called ‘Picnic Areas’ can be worthwhile places to meet rural birds. I stayed at the Picnic Area 20 miles east of Marathon while traveling to the Davis Mountains. Skylarking Cassin’s Sparrows put on a show for me. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:03 18:17 |
|
Location:
26260 US-90 Rest Area |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_Z9X8364_MarathonRestArea-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Texas Roadside Rests, sometimes called ‘Picnic Areas’ can be worthwhile places to meet rural birds. I stayed at the Picnic Area 20 miles east of Marathon while traveling to the Davis Mountains. Skylarking Cassin’s Sparrows put on a show for me. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:03 18:17 |
|
Location:
26260 US-90 Rest Area |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_Z9X8314_MarathonRestArea-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Skylarking Cassin’s Sparrows put on a show for me. Texas Roadside Rest, sometimes called ‘Picnic Areas’ can be worthwhile places to meet rural birds. I stayed at the Picnic Area 20 miles east of Marathon while traveling to the Davis Mountains. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:03 18:05 |
|
Location:
26260 US-90 Rest Area |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_Z9X8237_MarathonRestArea-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Skylarking Cassin’s Sparrows put on a show for me. Texas Roadside Rest, sometimes called ‘Picnic Areas’ can be worthwhile places to meet rural birds. I stayed at the Picnic Area 20 miles east of Marathon while traveling to the Davis Mountains. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:03 17:48 |
|
Location:
26260 US-90 Rest Area |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_Z9X8180_MarathonRestArea-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
|
Description: Texas Roadside Rest, sometimes called ‘Picnic Areas’ can be worthwhile places to meet rural birds. I stayed at the Picnic Area 20 miles east of Marathon while traveling to the Davis Mountains. Skylarking Cassin’s Sparrows put on a show for me. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:03 17:47 |
|
Location:
26260 US-90 Rest Area |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CassinsSparrow_Z9X8168_MarathonRestArea-TX |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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