New World Sparrows (18)

Song Sparrow
A rare winter visitor, November - March, in fields and old abandoned orange groves. A maximum count of 7 was recorded in early February 1991. This species is easily confused with other sparrows. One was pgotographed at the Circle B Bar Reserve in 2009. The LCBC high count of 4 was in 1992.

Lincoln’s Sparrow
Not at all common anywhere in Florida, this rare winter visitor was seen in 1996 in Lake Alfred and at the Tenoroc Fish Management Area near Lakeland in December 2010.

Swamp Sparrow
A fairly common winter visitor, November - April, found near wetlands throughout the region. They sing in April prior to migrating north. A dozen is possible in a day. A maximum count of 23 was recorded in early December, 1991. The LCBC high count of 230 was in 1975.

Adult

Photo: R Munguia( first year bird)

White-crowned Sparrow
Although rare before 1990, this sparrow is now a fairly common winter visitor, from late October - early April, found mainly in old abandoned orange groves. Although a maximum of 53 were found in late January of 1994, far fewer are seen today. The LWCBC high count of 38 was in 1995; LCBC 16 in 1993.

White-throated Sparrow
A rare winter visitor found locally every few years. It was found on the 1997 LCBC and last in December 2010 at the Tenoroc Fish Management Area near Lakeland. A maximum of 3 were found in early December of 1989. This species can be confused with the very similar Swamp Sparrow. The LCBC high count of 4 was in 1991.

Dark-eyed Junco
This northern junco is rare this far south in Florida. We have only 3 winter records; last seen in Lakeland in 1990.

Savannah Sparrow
A common winter visitor, October - April, found in fields throughout the region. Up to a hundred can be seen in a single field. The maximum count is 110 in late January 1993 and also 1994. The LCBC high count of 309 was in 1989.

Henslow's Sparrow
A rare winter visitor last seen in in the PPM near Bradley Jct in January of 2006 and before that Lake Wales in 1990.

LeConte’s Sparrow
One record of this rare sparrow was at Bok Tower Gardens, and recently one was found in the PPM near Bradley Jct in January of 2006. The LWCBC high count of 1 was in 1976

Photo Roy Morris

Grasshopper Sparrow *
An uncommon winter visitor, November - March, in fields and abandoned groves. A maximum of 12 were seen in late November. 1997. A few of the subspecies, A. floridanus breed at the Avon Park Air Force Range in extreme southeastern Polk. The LWCBC high count of 16 was in 1996; LCBC 10 was in 2008 and 8 in 1990. (E) Florida subspecies

Chipping Sparrow
A fairly common winter visitor, November- late March, found mostly in abandoned groves and home feeders. Chippies are usually found in flocks. A maximum count of 140 was recorded in late November 1991. The LCBC high count of 240 was in 1996.

Clay-colored Sparrow
A rare winter visitor found in abandon groves. This sparrow has only appeared here in the last 8 years, but is found several times a season now. The winter maximum is 9 was found near Dundee, January, 2000. This species is very much in appearance like a pale Chipping Sparrow. The LWCBC high count of 11 was in 2001.

Field Sparrow

An uncommon winter visitor, November - April, the maximum count of 27 was reported in late March 1992. This species is found in fields and groves. There numbers are in a severe decline today. Very similar to whit-crowned. The LCBC high count of 23 was in 1965.

Vesper Sparrow
An uncommon winter visitor, November - March, found in fields and groves. Vespers like bare ground on which to feed. The maximum count of 20 was in late January 1994 and also early March 1992. The LCBC high count of 32 was in 1967.

Lark Sparrow
A rare winter visitor found in fields and groves. It was last seen in December, 2004. A maximum count of 4 in December of 2004 near Dundee was recorded and 2 in early February 1997. The high count for LCBC/LWCBC of 1 was in 2000

Bachman’s Sparrow *
An uncommon resident of pine woods and palmettos. A dozen individuals a day singing in summer may be expected. However, during non breeding season these sparrows are almost impossible to find. Colt Creek S P in northern Polk is the best place to see this species.

Green-tailed Towhee
A western species almost never seen in Florida. The one record is from Lake Alfred in 1990.

Eastern Towhee *
This bird was formerly called the Rufous-sided Towhee. A common resident of pine woods and thickets, over 50 a day may be identified. Towhees are ground loving birds. The LWCBC high count of 243 was in 1997; LCBC 87 in 1979.

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