[Birdtalk] Possible breeding 'Timberline' Sparrow? & Kings Peak Birds

[Colby Neuman]

Hi all,

My friend and I decided Saturday that we were up for an adventure so we
decided we would hike Kings Peak (Uinta Mountains) on Sunday (June 25th)
from the Henry's Fork Trailhead.  After some commitments Saturday evening, I
drove to the Henry's Fork Trailhead where I was greeted to a CHIPPING
SPARROW singing at 1:30am.  After a couple of hours of sleep, I woke up at
4:45am to start gathering up all the gear for the hike.  This is when I
realized that I forgot my binocs.  25 miles later, I was actually quite
happy I did not bring the extra weight, but they still would have been nice
at some points along the way.  Anyway, AMERICAN ROBINS were singing
vigorously by this time and a COMMON NIGHTHAWK called periodically from the
dark sky above.  Before long, DUSKY FLYCATCHERS, FOX and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, CHIPPING
SPARROWS, etc. all joined the chorus.  We hit the trail at 6am and entered
the predominantly Lodgepole Pine forest.  Song quickly became scarce.  It is
rather amazing how unproductive lodgepole pine forests are for bird species
diversity and overall numbers.  Over the next couple of miles, I did hear a
small flock of RED CROSSBILLS flyover and a couple CORDILLEREAN FLYCATCHERS
were heard singing anytime the trail went along the stream (particularly in
the areas of small gorges).  After 6 or so miles the trail entered the large
meadows found in the upper end of Henry's Fork.  In decreasing order of
abundance, WILSON'S WARBLERS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, LINCOLN'S SPARROWS,
and FOX SPARROWS dominated the song of birds found in the willow dominated
meadows.  CASSIN'S FINCHES, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS,
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS were some of the more common
birds heard singing along the forest edges.  A WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER called
once from one of the forest edges and a male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD graced us by
flying right over our heads.

At about mile 8-9 (assuming it's 10 miles to Gunsight Pass) I heard two
different BREWER'S SPARROWS singing in a large meadow (~10,500-11000ft).  At
this point we were not above treeline, but very very close.  This particular
large meadow seemed typical of the meadows and vegetation found immediately
above treeline in upper Henry's Fork and other portions of the Uinta
Mountains.  There were lots of short grasses and herbacious flowering plants
along with some small willows (none more than 2 feet tall).  I did not see
any Potentia (probably just butchered the spelling?) in this particular
meadow, and I did not see any sagebrush or close relative either (I hadn't
since below the trailhead).  I did not notice any distinct difference
between these two birds songs and 'normal' Brewer's Sparrows.  However, my
friend is not a birder so I wasn't able to sit there and listen carefully as
we were hiking quite fast because we still had another 16-17 miles.
Although we were not 'above' treeline, the habitat was similar to that
expected of the 'Timberline' subspecies of Brewer's Sparrow...at least from
when I remember seeing them in the Canadian Rockies 12+ years ago.  Has
anyone else seen them in similar habitat in the Uinta Mountains or elsewhere
in Utah?  I thought I remember hearing of a population of Brewer's Sparrows
breeding above treeline in the Ruby Mountains (now whether they're
'Timberline' is still a good question).  I guess if someone ever performs a
genetic study of Brewer's Sparrows the Uinta population will hopefully be
included in the study!  Anyone hiking/backpacking in the Uinta's should also
report any sightings (or lack thereof) of Brewer's Sparrows in this habitat
in order to determine how large/small this population is.

Lots of territorial AMERICAN PIPITS and several BLACK ROSY FINCHES were
encountered between Gunsight Pass and Kings Peak.  Unfortunately, I did not
come across any ptarmigan on the hike.  A VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW was the only
bird seen or heard from the summit of Kings Peak.  New birds on the hike
back included a distant 'pinging' TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, an AMERICAN DIPPER
along Henry's Fork and a calling BROWN CREEPER in the lodgepole forest.

Colby
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