[TopOfUtah] Finches and Buntings

[Brandon Spencer]

Buck and Cindy Russel and I birded 3000 N., just west of the Benson Marina
in Cache Valley this morning.  We were searching for the reported Snow
Buntings and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches that have recently been reported.
While scanning a couple of flocks of Horned Larks from about 9:00 to 9:30
am, we were able to locate one LAPLAND LONGSPUR, two SNOW BUNTINGS, and
three BLACK ROSY-FINCHES.  We automatically assumed they were the
Gray-crowned, but upon closer examination, we noticed they were very dark
and had a distinct gray stripe (described as a "well-defined gray
hind-crown" in Sibley's Western field guide), not a crown.  After
considering the possibility of the finches being Gray-crowned "Interior"
subspecies, we quickly concluded they were indeed Black Rosy-Finches based
on their overall much darker color.

Good luck and Happy Birding!
--Brandon Spencer
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