Chondestes grammacus, een niet-beschermde gors

While inspecting an aviary, birds protection officers found a bunting, which greatly resembled a Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla). Further examination of the bird showed that it fitted the fieldquide description of a Little Bunting in almost every respect, exept for its length of wing and its total length. However, pictures and texts in European guides did not give the necessary Information. The bird was finally determined as a North American Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) This species is imported by birdsellers, and may be found in any aviary. It does not come under the protection of the Dutch ’Vogelwet 1936’ (Bird Protection Act). One should therefore, when checking the contents of aviaries, always be aware of the possibility of coming across non-European species, that may have great likeness to our European kinds.