spizella (finch) atrogularis (from atri, black, and qula, throat)
Saturday, March 31, 1984 — 4:30 pm
Saguaro National Monument, Arizona — Rincon Mountain Unit — Javelina Picnic Area
I left my wife and mom chatting in the picnic area and wandered. I saw three lifer sparrows in such quick succession, and for such a short duration, that I don’t remember much.
I was strolling through a wash/valley between rocky, scrub-covered hills in a saguaro forest. I spotted a female Black-chinned Sparrow foraging on the ground. As I watched, it flew up and perched in a nearby bush.