[texbirds] First US and Texas record for the Sumichrast's Meadowlark
- From: "Fred Collins" <fcndc@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "Texbirds" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2013 09:12:29 -0500
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This past February while Dennis Shepler and I were taking a birding trip to
west Texas we discovered this meadowlark near Red Bluff Reservoir in Reeves
County. We believe it may be a first US record. True to its nature, it was
with a flock of Western Meadowlark. This bird is very rare and while based
on the original collection and description it is thought to be a native of
Mexico, its current breeding grounds are unknown. One would not expect it to
move north in winter yet it is always associated with the more numerous
Western Meadowlark. The only documentation we were able to obtain was some
digi-scoped images. While they leave a great deal to be desired they are
good evidence of the distinctive and rare species. (Pictures can be viewed
at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwnp/sets/72157633137187939/
photo.photo
Sumichrast's Meadowlark (Sturnella sumichrasti)
was named in honor of the famous romantic author Frederick Caesar de
Sumichrast (1845-1933) currently best known for writing Les miserables. He
had a varied career and one of his popular works in the mid-1800s was The
Captive Bird.
The meadowlark was first observed and collected in Veracruz Mexico in 1868
by ex-Texian naturalist Gideon Lincecum who had moved to Mexico following
the Civil War. Gideon was well known to most scientists of his day including
Charles Darwin who sponsored his publication on agriculture ants (harvester
ants). His observations and specimens were accepted by Spencer Baird who
formally described the species as Sumichrast's Meadowlark much to the dismay
of Gideon that wanted the bird named Curlew Meadowlark since its mode of
living was so like that of the curlews. Baird was hoping the then Harvard
professor Sumichrast would donate money to his museum. But never-the-less at
least he scored points with his wife who adored the professor's work.
Lincecum noted one very distinctive behavior for which he took full credit
of discovery. The Sumichrast's meadowlark is rare and travels among flocks
of Western Meadowlarks in winter when it subsists almost entirely on earth
worms. The worms are completely safe from the Western Meadowlarks that
cannot probe to the depths capable of the curlew-meadowlark. The
unsuspecting worms hearing the passage of harmless meadowlarks above are
easily plucked in the same fashion that a Zone-tail Hawk descends on a
hapless ground squirrel that paid no attention to the group of Turkey
Vultures overhead. And one more thing, happy April fool's day.
photo
May April be filled with the best birds you can imagine. Good birding from
Fred Collins and Dennis Shepler
Fred Collins
On the prairie in Waller County Texas
TOS Life Member
HAS Advisory Board
KPC Advisory Board
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