MOURC Proceedings Archive - Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks Accepted
Duplicates
This is the 1981 to present Records Committee Proceedings archive for
The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
Families
Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks
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Old World Flycatchers
Old World Sparrows
Pipits
Finches
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Towhees, Sparrows
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blackbirds, Orioles
Warblers
Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks

Proceedings
Species: Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Western Tanager
[Pyrrhuloxia]
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Dickcissel

Painted Bunting (C) (Passerina ciris)Start Date 0000-00-00
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
avian
information
1893-05-02Lac qui Parle5/2 Lac qui Parle (first state record) (first county record)
37:1501965indexPainted Bunting Photographed in Cook County
1MOU1965-05-121965-05-16SchroederCookThe Flicker 37:143 The Flicker 37:150Accepted
avian
information
1965-05-121965-05-16Cook5/12-16 Cook (second state record) (first county record)
5-12 to 5-16, Schroeder, Cook Co, MAF, JCG, RG, RLH, photographed in color by HFH. Second Minnesota record. See Notes of Interest elsewhere in this issue.
avian
information
1969-05-271969-05-28Cottonwood5/27-28 Cottonwood (third state record) (first county record)
5-28 (1 M captured and later died-photo taken) Mountain Lake, Cottonwood Co., LAF.
41:891969indexPainted Bunting at Mountain Lake
2MOU1969-05-28Mountain LakeCottonwoodThe Loon 41:80Accepted
58:1291986indexPainted Bunting in Nobles County
359:571986-05-18near Leota Nobles(vote 7-0; The Loon 58: 129). Accepted
avian
information
1986-05-18Nobles5/18 Nobles (fourth state record) (first county record)
5/18 Nobles Charles, Gert and Margo Willemssen (The Loon 58:129).
64:1381992-05-17FaribaultRice(vote 0-7). The entire description was: "It had a bright red breast, and eye ring, the head was blue." This brief description is also insufficient to document such an unusual species. Not Accepted
66:1521994indexPainted Bunting in Cook County
466:1271994-05-231994-05-25near Grand MaraisCook(The Loon 66:152). Accepted
avian
information
1994-05-231994-05-25Cook5/23-25 Cook (fifth state record) (second county record)
Fourth state record 5/23–25 near Grand Marais, Cook Co. RAR, KMH, RJ (The Loon 66:152).
570:1561995-05-24BlaineAnoka(photo record #98-27, vote 7- 0). Accepted
avian
information
1995-05-24Anoka5/24 Anoka (sixth state record) (first county record)
Fifth state record 5/24 Blaine, Anoka Co. BME (no documentation).
671:361998-06-02ShakopeeScott(record #98-71, vote 7- 0). Accepted
avian
information
1998-06-02Scott6/2 Scott (seventh state record) (first county record)
First summer record for this species; single male seen on 6/2 at a Shakopee residence feeder in Scott Co.
772:401999-08-101999-08-20Maple GroveHennepin(record #99- 60, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
1999-08-101999-08-20Hennepin8/10-20 Hennepin (eighth state record) (first county record)
A cooperative male appeared at the Novak's feeder in Hennepin (Maple Grove) in late June or early July. It was first documented 8/10 by many observers and remained through at least 8/20.
873:352000-05-052000-08-08Maple GroveHennepin(record #2000-51, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2000-05-052000-05-29Hennepin5/5-8, 29 Hennepin (ninth state record) (second county record)
Presumably the same bird returning from last summer, an adult male appeared 5/5+ (fide KE) at the Novak's feeder in Hennepin (Maple Grove). It was first documented 5/25 (†KE) and exhibited territorial behavior.
73:1682001-05-032001-05-05near Pelican RapidsOtter Tail(record #2001-20, vote 0-7). The identification was probably correct, since a male Painted Bunting is so distinctive, but the documentation by an inexperienced observer is too brief for such an unusual species. The description mentions blue on the “back of head,” greenish color on the back, red “under the neck” and “orangish color under the stomach,” but nothing is said of the size, wings, tail, optics used, and how or how soon the identification was made. Not Accepted
74:362001-05-12CottonwoodLyon(record #2001-46, vote 3-4). This bird was almost certainly correctly identified, since it is hard to confuse a male Painted Bunting with anything else. However, the inexperienced observers only provided a photo in which it is hard to see anything on the bird, and the entire plumage description only mentions blue, green, and “burnt orange” colors being seen without saying where these colors were on the plumage. Not Accepted
74:237-2382002indexA Most Unexpected and Welcome Visitor: Painted Bunting in Aitkin County
975:412002-04-242002-04-28near AitkinAitkin(record #2002-54, vote 7-0, The Loon 74:237-238). This male was seen by many observers and photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2002-04-242002-04-29Aitkin4/24-29 Aitkin (tenth state record) (first county record)
An adult male was record early 4/24–29 Aitkin (near Aitkin) †BBr, ph. †PHS, †DTT, †SMT, †MH, m.ob. (The Loon 74:237–238). Tenth state record but the sixth since 1994!
1075:412002-05-312002-06-05Wuori TownshipSt. Louis(record #2002-53, vote 7-0). There was no written description provided for this male, but a single photograph provides adequate documentation. Accepted
avian
information
2002-05-312002-06-05St. Louis5/31-6/5 St. Louis (eleventh state record) (first county record)
An adult male was record early 4/24–29 Aitkin (near Aitkin) †BBr, ph. †PHS, †DTT, †SMT, †MH, m.ob. (The Loon 74:237–238). Tenth state record but the sixth since 1994!
1176:392003-05-29BrunoPine(record #2003-61, vote 6-1). This male was photographed by the homeowners at their feeders. Accepted
avian
information
2003-05-29Pine5/29 Pine (twelfth state record) (first county record)
Adult male 5/29 Pine (Bruno) v.t. TB. Twelfth state record but the eighth since 1994!
1276:1522004-05-132004-05-17near Detroit LakesBecker(record #2004-018, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2004-05-132004-05-17Becker5/13-17 Becker (thirteenth state record) (first county record)
Single adult males 5/13 St. Louis (Hoyt Lakes) JGe fide ALE, ph. †MH, ph. †PHS, 5/13–17 Becker (near Detroit Lakes) ph. MAn, †JMJ, †PHS, †DTT, †SMT, m.obs., 5/19–20 Clay (Moorhead) RP, †RHO, ph. †PHS.
1376:1522004-05-13Hoyt LakesSt. Louis(record #2004-017, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2004-05-13St. Louis5/13 St. Louis (fifteenth state record) (second county record)
Single adult males 5/13 St. Louis (Hoyt Lakes) JGe fide ALE, ph. †MH, ph. †PHS, 5/13–17 Becker (near Detroit Lakes) ph. MAn, †JMJ, †PHS, †DTT, †SMT, m.obs., 5/19–20 Clay (Moorhead) RP, †RHO, ph. †PHS.
1476:1522004-05-192004-05-20MoorheadClay(record #2004-019, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2004-05-192004-05-20Clay5/19-20 Clay (fourteenth state record) (first county record)
Single adult males 5/13 St. Louis (Hoyt Lakes) JGe fide ALE, ph. †MH, ph. †PHS, 5/13–17 Becker (near Detroit Lakes) ph. MAn, †JMJ, †PHS, †DTT, †SMT, m.obs., 5/19–20 Clay (Moorhead) RP, †RHO, ph. †PHS.
1576:1522004-06-092004-06-11near MarshallLyon(record #2004-070, vote 7-0). Each of the above four records inRecord 2004-026. Burrowing Owl, 30 May 2004, Lewisville, Watonwan County. Photo by Anthony Hertzel. volved adult males at feeders, and all were documented by written details and photographs. Written descriptions of behavior, plumage, and condition of bare parts are especially important when the possibility of prior captivity is considered; in all four cases, the birds' behavior appeared normal, and there was no evidence of unusual wear, coloration, or damage to their plumage and bare parts. The dates are congruent with this species' recent pattern of vagrancy to the Midwest. Accepted
avian
information
2004-06-092004-06-11Lyon6/9-11 Lyon (first county record)
Adult male 6/9–11 Lyon (near Marshall) PRD, ph. †RJS, †JGW, female or immature male 6/17 or 6/18 through 6/22 Olmsted (Rochester) TD, BOr, ph. RLE. All but 4 of the state's 16 records have occurred within the past ten years.
1676:1522004-06-172004-06-22RochesterOlmsted(record #2004-071, vote 7-0). This record was documented only by photographs, but the origin of this immature male was not questioned. This represents Minnesota's first modern record of a non-adult male. Accepted
avian
information
2004-06-172004-06-18Olmsted6/17-18 Olmsted (first county record)
Adult male 6/9–11 Lyon (near Marshall) PRD, ph. †RJS, †JGW, female or immature male 6/17 or 6/18 through 6/22 Olmsted (Rochester) TD, BOr, ph. RLE. All but 4 of the state's 16 records have occurred within the past ten years.
1779:1232006-11-18MaplewoodRamsey(record #2006-095, vote 7-0). Eighteenth state record, two-thirds of which occurred within the last 10 years. Accepted
avian
information
2006-11-18Ramsey11/18 Ramsey (first county record)
Eighteenth state record 11/18 Ramsey (adult male at Maplewood) ph. RAm.
1879:1232007-05-192007-05-23near Little MaraisLake(record #2007-028, vote 7-0). Fifth record for the Northeast Region, but the first for Lake County. Both of the above were adult males and both were photographed. Accepted
avian
information
2007-05-20Lake5/20 Lake (first county record)
Nineteenth state record 5/19–23 Lake (Little Marais) ph. SRC, ph. †JWL.
1980:52007-07-18Moulton TownshipMurray(record #2007-053, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2007-07-18Murray7/18 Murray (first county record)
An adult male 7/18 Murray (Moulton Twp.) †NED was a first county record.
2080:1152008-05-13Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Office, Lake CityWabasha(record #2008-032, vote 7-0). Twenty-first state record. Adult male, photographed. The following records were Not Accepted. (Please note that a record which is Not Accepted only means that the documentation was not complete or convincing enough to include the sighting in The Loon, the journal of the MOU, or in the MOU's archives of confirmed bird records. Such a vote does not necessarily mean the observer misidentified the bird or did not see it. Summaries of the reasons why a record was Not Accepted are included here. These are in no way intended to be critical of the observer. The only purpose is to highlight the difficulties an observer may encounter while identifying or documenting these and similar species.) Accepted
avian
information
2008-05-13Wabasha5/13 Wabasha (first county record)
2181:1152009-05-192009-05-21MoorheadClay(record #2009-021, vote 7-0). Accepted
avian
information
2009-05-202009-05-21Clay5/20-21 Clay (second county record)
Both records were of adult males visiting feeders: 5/20 Rock ph. PMo, and 5/19–21 Clay CMN, KBr, †PBB, ph. DAC, m.ob.
2281:1152009-05-20HardwickRock(record #2009-022, vote 7-0). Both records were of adult males photographed at feeders. Nineteen of the state's 23 records have occurred within the last 16 years. Accepted
2385:992013-05-092013-05-10Aitkin(record #2013-011, vote 7-0). Adult male, diagnostic photograph. Second spring record for the county following a previous spring record in 2002. Accepted
avian
information
2013-05-092013-05-10Aitkin5/9-10 Aitkin (second county record)
The first since spring 2009 was seen in Aitkin 5/9–10 (adult male, Spencer Twp.) CCP, ph. BU, ph. ANy, m.ob.
2488:912015-05-182015-05-19EvelethSt. Louis(record #2015-045, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. The following record was voted on and was Not Accepted. (Please note that a record which is only means that the documentation was not complete or convincing enough to include the sighting in The Loon, the journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (“MOU”), or in the MOU's archives of confirmed bird records. Such a vote does not necessarily mean the observer misidentified the bird or did not see it. Summaries of the reasons why a record was are included here. These are in no way intended to be critical of the observer. The only purpose is to highlight the difficulties an observer may encounter while identifying or documenting these and similar species). Accepted
avian
information
2015-05-19St. Louis5/19 St. Louis (third county record)
A male visiting a feeder in Eveleth 5/18–19 ph. CSb was the third record for St. Louis (pending review by MOURC).
2589:872017-05-082017-05-10south of Cannon CityRice(record #2017-006, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. First county record. The following records were voted on and were Not Accepted. (Please note that a record which is only means that the documentation was not complete or convincing enough to include the sighting in The Loon, the journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), or in the MOU's archives of confirmed bird records. Such a vote does not necessarily mean the observer misidentified the bird or did not see it. Summaries of the reasons why a record was are included here. These are in no way intended to be critical of the observer. The only purpose is to highlight the difficulties an observer may encounter while identifying or documenting these and similar species.) Accepted
avian
information
2017-05-10Rice5/10 Rice (first county record)
A single male visited a feeder in Cannon City 5/8–10 Rice ph. †DAB, ph. †LMS, ph. GHo, m.ob (The Loon 89:87–91).
90:832018-04-262018-05-02Somerset TownshipSteele(record #2018-005, vote 7-0). Presumed first-spring male, photographed and audio-recorded singing. First county record. Not Accepted
avian
information
2018-04-262018-05-02Steele4/26-5/2 Steele (first county record)
A single immature male 4/26–5/2 Steele (Somerset Twp.) ph. †PSu, ph. †PRH, †DAB, ph. IsH, †EzH, m.ob. and a single adult male 5/9–10 Olmsted (Rochester) ph. †KEM, ph. †JJS, m.ob.
90:832018-05-092018-05-10Olmsted County (record #2018-016Olmsted(record #2018-016, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. The following records were voted on and were Not Accepted. (Please note that a record which is only means that the documentation was not complete or convincing enough to include the sighting in The Loon, the journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), or in the MOU's archives of confirmed bird records. Such a vote does not necessarily mean the observer misidentified the bird or did not see it. Summaries of the reasons why a record was are included here. These are in no way intended to be critical of the observer. The only purpose is to highlight the difficulties an observer may encounter while identifying or documenting these and similar species.) Not Accepted
avian
information
2018-05-092018-05-10Olmsted5/9, 10 Olmsted (second county record)
A single immature male 4/26–5/2 Steele (Somerset Twp.) ph. †PSu, ph. †PRH, †DAB, ph. IsH, †EzH, m.ob. and a single adult male 5/9–10 Olmsted (Rochester) ph. †KEM, ph. †JJS, m.ob.
2691:892019-05-13private residence in the vicinity of the intersection of State Highway 68 and CoBlue Earth(record #2019-015, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. The following records were voted on and were Not Accepted. (Please note that a record which is only means that the documentation was not complete or convincing enough to include the sighting in The Loon, the journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), or in the MOU's archives of confirmed bird records. Such a vote does not necessarily mean the observer misidentified the bird or did not see it. Summaries of the reasons why a record was are included here. These are in no way intended to be critical of the observer. The only purpose is to highlight the difficulties an observer may encounter while identifying or documenting these and similar species). Accepted
avian
information
2019-05-13Blue Earth5/13 Blue Earth (first county record)
A single male visited a feeder 5/13 Blue Earth (southeast of Flandrau S.P.) ph. KSw, † LiH.
2792:922019-05-172019-05-19FreeportStearns(record #2019-066, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. First county record. Accepted
avian
information
2019-05-172019-05-19Stearns5/17, 19 Stearns (first county record)
A single male visited a feeder 5/13 Blue Earth (southeast of Flandrau S.P.) ph. KSw, † LiH.
2893:472020-05-102020-05-11RochesterOlmsted(record #2020-080, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. The following records were voted on and were Not Accepted. Please note that a record which is only means that the documentation was not complete or convincing enough to include the sighting in The Loon, the journal of the MOU, or in the MOU's archives of confirmed bird records. Such a vote does not necessarily mean the observer misidentified the bird or did not see it. Summaries of the reasons why a record was are included here. These are in no way intended to be critical of the observer. The only purpose is to highlight the difficulties an observer may encounter while identifying or documenting these and similar species. Accepted
avian
information
2020-05-102020-05-11Olmsted5/10, 11 Olmsted (third county record)
Two reports, both males: 5/10–11 Olmsted (Kutzky Park) ph. LHv, 5/23 Big Stone (feeder east of Ortonville) ph. EHg.
2992:922020-05-23six miles east of OrtonvilleBig Stone(record #2020-025, vote 6-1). Adult male, photographed. First county record. The following records were voted on and were Not Accepted. (Please note that a record which is only means that the documentation was not complete or convincing enough to include the sighting in The Loon, the journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU), or in the MOU's archives of confirmed bird records. Such a vote does not necessarily mean the observer misidentified the bird or did not see it. Comments, if any, are in no way intended to be critical of the observer. The only purpose is to highlight the difficulties an observer may encounter while identifying or documenting these and similar species.) ● Brant (Branta bernicla) 10 March 2020, Zumbro River near Foster-Arend Park, Olmsted County (record #2020-001, vote 0-7). Three birds seen as fly-overs in early March would have been a record early date by more than two weeks, suggesting thorough documentation was needed. The description of a small goose was simply too brief and MOURC concluded it was insufficient to rule out several more expected species. Alternative identification consideration was only given to Sandhill Crane and Canada Goose, but not more likely species such as Cackling Goose or other similarsized waterfowl. The observer had no prior experience with Brant and made the identification after perusing a field guide later in the day. Accepted
avian
information
2020-05-23Big Stone5/23 Big Stone (first county record)
Two reports, both males: 5/10–11 Olmsted (Kutzky Park) ph. LHv, 5/23 Big Stone (feeder east of Ortonville) ph. EHg.
93:472020-08-29St. PaulRamsey(record #2020-052, vote 0-7). Neither of the two birds were accepted. Most of the remarks in the description were conclusory while offering no real details of what was observed, especially of the male. The description of the female was too limited to rule out other possibilities. Not Accepted
3093:32021-05-22 Carleton Upper Arboretum, NorthfieldRice (record #2021-039, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed.

Accepted
avian
information
2021-05-22Rice5/22 Rice (second county record)
A silent adult male was foraging in black walnut trees 5/22 Rice (Carleton College Cowling Arboretum) †TiG, ph. †ASu, m.ob.
3193:1112021-11-27 Duluth Lakewalk, between Seventh and Eighth Avenue EastSt. Louis (record #2021-086, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed.

Accepted
3294:32022-04-242022-04-25 private residence, St. CharlesWinona (record #2022-009, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. First county record.

Accepted
avian
information
2022-04-242022-04-25Winona4/24-25 Winona (first county record)
Sixth spring in a row where this species has been recorded. Adult male reported 4/24–25 Winona (Elba Twp.) ph. †DoN, ph. †LHl.
3394:1152022-11-11 Agassiz Audubon CenterPolk (record #2022-093, vote 7-0). Female, photographed. First county record. Accepted
avian
information
2022-11-11Polk11/11 Polk (first county record)
Only the fifth fall record and one of the very few females to be found in the state: 11/11 Polk (Agassiz Audubon Sanctuary) ph. †HHu.
3495:32023-05-072023-05-09 Red Jacket Trail, Rasmussen Woods, MankatoBlue Earth (record #2023-034, vote 7-0). Adult male, photographed. Second county record. 

Accepted
avian
information
2023-05-072023-05-09Blue Earth5/7, 8, 9 Blue Earth (second county record)
One report of an adult male: 5/7–9 Blue Earth (Mankato, Red Jacket Trail) KRo, ph. †ChH, ph. †TWe, ph. †APi, m.ob.
avian
information
2023-06-22Cook6/22 Cook (third county record)
 
 Thirty-eight records: 27 spring, 1 spring-summer, 1 spring-fall, 5 summer, and 4 fall. Recorded in eight of the last ten years, most recently 2023.

Notes:

The information in the above table comes from several different sources. The count in column 1 indicates which of the sources is considered the primary source.
'Accepted' MOURC entries from The MOURC Proceedings
'Not Accepted' or 'Rejected' MOURC entry from The MOURC Proceedings
Accepted MOU records assembled by David Cahlander
Sighting records for ()
Avian information from the occurrence maps, in dark red, assembled by Robert Janssen. Seasonal report for the species/season published in The Loon or The Flicker has been added.
Information from The Loon index assembled by Anthony Hertzel and David Cahlander