Arkadiusz Sikora, Waldemar Półtorak
Ornis Polonica 2021, 62: 30–48
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2021.1.3
Abstract: The Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis from subspecies labradorius / savanna was recorded in the dune area of Jastarnia in the Hel Penninsula (N Poland, the Baltic coast) on 26 June 2020. It was the first record of this Nearctic species in Poland (observation accepted by the Avifaunistic Commission) and the sixth in the Western Palearctic. Nearctic passerines occur regularly in the Western Palearctic, most frequently in the Atlantic islands, less often in the coastal Atlantic areas and exceptionally inland. In 1800–2019 a total of 1736 records of 76 species of Nearctic passerines were reported from the Western Palearctic. In total, representatives of 14 families have been recorded in the Western Palearctic, including the most numerous species Parulidae, Passerellidae, Turdidae, Tyrannidae and Cardinalidae. The Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus, Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens, Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus, Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus and Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata were the most frequently observed species. In 1801–1950, Nearctic passerines were found 46 times in the Western Palearctic. Until the mid-1960s, the number of records had been relatively low and then a gradual increase in the observation numbers was noted. In the last two decades the number of observations fluctuated from 11 to 107 per year. The majority of records (82%) was noted in autumn, mainly in October. Observations in spring (9%, mainly in May), in winter (5%), and summer (4%) were less frequent. Only in Passerellidae family, the spring observations were more frequent compared to autumn ones.
Keywords: frequency of records, Nearctic passerines, Passerculus sandwichensis, phenology, Savannah Sparrow, Western Palearctic
