This singing male created a lot of excitement when it showed up in an old field near Wagram, in the Sandhills region of North Carolina, far from its home range, which is centered in west Texas. There is speculation that the recent sightings in the east may be related to the recent severe drought in Texas. This drab bird, a relative of the Bachman's Sparrow, is easiest to identify by its song.

Scotland Co., NC 4/30/2011.

This bird, the first record for North Carolina, was found by Gil Miller on April 25, 2011. I chased the bird as soon as I returned from a work trip (ironically in central Texas, where I didn't see any Cassin's). The sparrow was last seen here on May 5, 2011.

Scotland Co., NC 4/30/2011.

Scotland Co., NC 4/30/2011.