This evening, Mark Johnson found this gorgeous Nelson’s Sparrow at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron County. The bird was in a large, wet patch of Goldenrod on the shore of the reservoir. Good luck if anyone tries to refind this bird. Nelson’s Sparrow is a species I have spent quite a bit of time looking for in PA with no luck (yet).
Nelson’s Sparrow (Mark Johnson)
Nelson’s Sparrows breed mainly in the upper Midwest and prairie potholes region and New England coast, and then winter along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is only during migration that they pass through Pennsylvania, generally mid-September to early November.
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- Nelson’s Sparrow breeding range
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- Nelson’s Sparrow winter range
Drew Weber
I am a young ornithologist originally from PA but now living in central New York. I am pursuing a master's degree at Penn State University studying grassland birds and their relationships with different agricultural practices. When I am not working feverishly on my thesis, I enjoy adding new birds to my county, state and life lists, digiscoping and getting outdoors. I am active in the Pennsylvania birding community as chairman of the bird records committee, as well as a reviewer for sightings submitted to eBird.
Some topics that really interest me are migration, bird distributions and vagrancy.
Contact me if you have any questions about birds and birding in PA.
Latest posts by Drew Weber (see all)
- ABA Bird of the Year Multimedia Art Contest Announcement - May 20, 2013
- Best flight this year - May 18, 2013
- North winds slow migration in east, tonight could be more of the same - May 17, 2013
- Heavy migration everywhere! - May 16, 2013
- Heavy migration with western NY and PA fallout possibility - May 15, 2013
