On 3 May 1998, while travelling south along Fennell Road in Limestone County, approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) from Belle Mina, two birds flew up from the edge of the dirt road. The birds were relocated at the edge of the grassy right of way and a newly sown cotton field, and were immediately identified as Lark Sparrows (Chondestes grammacus). The two birds spent the next few minutes foraging in the grass, and one individual strutted, raised its head feathers and repeatedly fanned its tail revealing whitetipped rectrices. Both birds then flew to the other side of the road and landed on the sparsely vegetated ground. Again one bird fanned its tail after standing on clumps of dirt and at one time was seen tugging at a dry grass stalk as if trying to pull it out of the ground. High-pitched, sharp “tsep” calls were given repeatedly, but no song was heard. We observed the pair for about 1 0 min and concluded they probably had formed a pair bond.
Author: Dean R. Cutten and Raelene H. Cutten
Volume Number: 44 Year Published: 1998
Issue Number: 2
Page Number: 22
Link to article: http://birdlife.aosbirds.org/1998/Vol. 44 No 2 1998_p22-23.pdf
Link to the full issue of BirdLife: http://birdlife.aosbirds.org/1998/Vol. 44 No 2 1998.pdf
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