Date: 4/21/24 12:55 pm From: Matthew Bell via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Sherwood Meadowlark
I want to say that while ID is still out for discussion, it is leaning towards Eastern. Oscar Johnson, David Sibley, and others have all expressed that it’s just a pale Eastern, while some people who live within the range of Chihuahuan lean towards it being a member of that species (discussion can be found on the Advanced Bird ID Facebook group). I have also had private discussions with people over the bird, and Eastern is the leading candidate in all conversations. Oscar has said that some of the recent flight shots are solidly Eastern, and since he has spent significant time looking them over in collections during his time at LSU, I tend to side with him.
If Johanna Beam, the individual who researched the split a couple years ago and then submitted the proposal that was accepted, doesn’t comment on the post soon I’ll shoot her a text directly.
An interesting bird nonetheless.
-Matt Bell
Vernon
> On Apr 21, 2024, at 15:47, Chuck Imbergamo via CTBirds <ctbirds...> wrote:
>
> There is a Meadowlark being seen at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport which is causing some excitement. Several expert birders have looked at photographs and believe that it is not an Eastern Meadowlark, and it does not have the right field marks for a Western Meadowlark either.
>
> Aidan Kiley has reached some experts familiar with a third Meadowlark type and they believe that it may be a CHIHUAHUAN MEADOWLARK. Final determination has not yet been made.
>
> I wanted to post about it here in case birders in the area want to try for it. The last I heard it was in the rotary but it has also been seen in the area of the model airplane field.
>
> Apparently the bird is very skittish and easily spooked so birders are advised to try and observe it from a distance.
>
> When the final species determination is made this group will be updated.
>
> Chuck Imbergamo
> CT Birds Moderator
> Madison
>
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