Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Abundance: Rare; 6 records in 3 Kentucky counties and 2 Tennessee counties, each representing a single individual (Map of UCR Distribution); data from the Regional bird-monitoring efforts are too few to determine a trend in the population migrating through the Region (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

Status: Transient during late spring (1 record) and mid- to late fall (5 records); sight records with documentation; photographs (see links below).

Information on Records: 

10 November 2003 (1) Mt. Zion, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2004a; McNeeley 2006).

10 May 2006 (1) Barren River State Resort Park, Barren County, Kentucky (David L. Roemer documentation form; Yandell 2008).

29 November 2008 (1) Nicholson Dr., Cumberland County, Tennessee (Edmund K. LeGrand photo, DJ Stanley photo, Joseph E. Mast); Tennessee Bird Record Committee approval required.

16 October 2009 (1) intersection of Smith Fork Rd. and Dismal Rd., DeKalb County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Judy C. Fuson photo).

17 October 2016 (1) Well Drill Ponds, Wayne County, Kentucky (Ray Bontrager photo), an eBird record (S32450183).

6 September 2017 (1) Barren County, Kentucky (David L. Roemer, Stephen J. Stedman).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Spring: 10 May 2006 (1; Barren County, Kentucky; David L. Roemer notes), no other records at this season.

    Fall: 6 September 2016 (1; Barren County, Kentucky; David L. Roemer, Stephen J. Stedman)–29 November 2008 (1; Cumberland County, Tennessee; Edmund K. LeGrand, DJ Stanley, Joseph E. Mast).

Habitat: Weedy, brushy sites; sometimes more open weedy sites.

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Remarks: Extremely difficult to separate from fall Chipping Sparrow.

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited