Lincoln’s Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrows breed in the Northwoods across Alaska and Canada, south to the northern tier of eastern states and into the Rocky Mountains. Due to their boreal range, their preference for dense shrubs, and their general shyness, Lincoln’s Sparrows are poorly studied. They winter from the southern United States to northern Central America. Erika and I found this individual in the Carleton College arboretum on 22 September 2018.The Lincoln’s Sparrow was first scientifically described by Audubon in 1833. The bird was named for Thomas Lincoln, an independently wealthy Maine farmer. Lincoln accompanied Audubon on a collecting trip to Labrador, which is where they found the sparrow.