Le Conte's Sparrow

Status One record. This bird was carefully identified on Seal Island on 6 October 1974 by Bruce Mactavish (who also photographed it), Ross Anderson and Pierre Beland.

Remarks This mid-western Canadian bird nests as far east as central Quebec and may be a more regular transient than our single record suggests. Like other Ammodramus species, it is secretive. It is distinguished by its rich buff face and breast, dark bill, darkly striped flanks and, above all, by the distinct "tick" mark at the posterior end of its gray face patch.