This user is a member of
WikiProject Birds.
This user is a birder and submits sightings to eBird.
JHUThis user attends or attended
Johns Hopkins University
9,000+This user has made more than 9,000 contributions to Wikipedia.
This user has visited or driven through 37 of the 50 States and the District of Columbia.37
This user has visited Canada.
This user has visited the United Kingdom.
This user has visited Ecuador.
This user has visited China.
This user has visited Thailand.
This user has visited Myanmar.
This user has visited Laos.


Me as drawn by Shyamal

Mostly, Rufous-crowned Sparrow (formerly known as European Bison Man until he forgot his password) works with bird articles. As a birder, he is fascinated by all of the species abroad that he is likely never to see.

So far, he has started forty-three pages of varying quality: Gallirallus, New Caledonian Rail, New Caledonian Lorikeet, New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar, Beck's Petrel, Horned Parakeet, Crow Honeyeater, Azure-rumped Tanager, Guadalupe Junco, Thick-billed Parrot, Maroon-fronted Parrot, Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, Coiba Spinetail, Nino Konis Santana National Park, Attmore-Oliver House, Poecile, Fan-tailed Warbler, Pariente's Fork-marked Lemur, Columbina, Claravis, Lava Heron, Red and White Bundle, Titanohierax borrasi, Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Daniel Alomía Robles, Humphrey-Parkes terminology‎, Swallowtail Shiner, Sand Shiner, pecten, uncinate processes of ribs, Rallicola extinctus, List of North Carolina birds, Phyllophaga nebulosa, Sansevieria cylindrica, Strophomenida, Desmoxytes, Desmoxytoides hasenpuschorum, Polydesmida, Heteropoda dagmarae, Periophthalmodon schlosseri, giant skippers, List of Maryland birds, Appalachian Azure, Christian Jouanin, and Columbicola extinctus.

Outside these and the shiny boxes at the top of the page, Rufous-crowned Sparrow is also particularly proud of his contribution to the Antiguan Racer, Carrikeri Harlequin Frog, and Philippine Eagle articles.

He has learned that plans he sets for Wikipedia tend to fail, and if history repeats itself, contributes in short bursts. In 2010 he planned on finalizing Djibouti Francolin for a FAC run while bringing Great Auk and Philippine Eagle up to GA. From there, New World vulture and Labrador Duck would have been targeted while he attempted to update Cape Fear Shiner for a possible FAC. He had decided to dedicate 2009 to improving Wikipedia's articles on the 190 critically endangered species of birds, with an overly ambitious plan to get 52 of them to either GA or FA status by December 31. He failed, but he still is interested in bringing critically endangered articles up to higher statuses. For a page detailing this project, go here. He also wants to start Rododendron vaseyi.

This user's first bird was the Brown Pelican.
This user's 100th bird was the Common Gallinule.
This user's 200th bird was the Rufous-crowned Sparrow.
This user's 250th bird was the Eurasian Wigeon.
This user's 300th bird was the Red Crossbill.
This user's 400th bird was the Tufted Tit-tyrant.
This user's 500th bird was the Purple-throated Cotinga.
This user's 600th bird was the Purple Gallinule.
This user's 700th bird was the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker.
This user's 750th bird was the Red-wattled Lapwing.
This user's favorite seen bird was the Swallow-tailed Gull.
This user's rarest seen bird was the Waved Albatross.


DYK
...that hatchlings of the Cape Fear Shiner, a critically endangered minnow endemic to central North Carolina, feed off of their egg yolk for five days after they hatch? Dec. 13, 2007 (1684 views)
...that the Crested Shelduck is a critically endangered duck that has not been definitively seen since 1964, despite a handful of possible sightings and numerous surveys of its presumed habitat? Dec. 31, 2007 (1300 views)
...that the Rufous-crowned Sparrow, a medium-sized sparrow of the southwestern United States and Mexico, has a subspecies endemic to the Todos Santos Islands that has not been seen since the 1970s? Jan. 22, 2008 (725 views)
...that the Carrikeri Harlequin Frog, a critically endangered toad endemic to northern Colombia, was recently rediscovered after an absence of 14 years? March 31, 2008 (2099 views)
...that the Flammulated Flycatcher, a tyrant flycatcher endemic to Mexico, was eventually placed in the monotypic genus Deltarhynchus because of its broad bill? May 31, 2008 (819 views)
...that millipedes in the genus Desmoxytes give off an almond-like smell as they produce hydrogen cyanide to ward off predators? Dec. 20, 2008 (2000 views)
...that the Djibouti Francolin, a critically endangered species of bird, is only known from two isolated locations in Djibouti? Jan. 4, 2009 (1400 views)
...that the Azure-hooded Jay, though not threatened with extinction, is uncommon in some parts of its Central American range? April 26, 2009 (1305 views)
...that the larvae of the Appalachian Azure, a species of gossamer wings butterfly, can only feed on the flowers of the black cohosh? May 15, 2009 (740 views)
...that Christian Jouanin, a French ornithologist, has described three species of birds, including Jouanin's Petrel and the critically endangered Djibouti Francolin? May 3, 2010 (989 views)
...that the White-necked Rockfowl, a vulnerable species of bird found in Upper Guinean forests, builds its nests in caves out of mud? November 5, 2011 (2800 views)
...that the Long-tailed Ground Roller, a species of bird endemic to Madagascar, digs a tunnel in the sand as an entrance to its underground nest? November 18, 2011 (2200 views)
...that the Congo Serpent Eagle may be one of few known examples of avian mimicry? November 29, 2011 (6300 views)
...that the Negros Fruit Dove is only known from a single female shot from a tree on the slopes of a Philippine volcano in 1953? April 22, 2013 (4985 views)
...that the extinct Choiseul Pigeon (pictured), which was endemic to the island of Choiseul in the Solomon Islands, was so tame that the indigenous hunters could pick it up off of its roost? April 24, 2013 (6652 views)
...that the Purple-throated Cotinga is considered a naturally rare species across its range? April 26, 2013 (3502 views)
...that despite its name, the chewing louse Columbicola extinctus, which was originally thought to only use the Passenger Pigeon as a host, is not extinct as it was rediscovered on the Band-tailed Pigeon? April 28, 2013 (700 views)
...that though the Sulu Bleeding-heart has not been definitively seen since 1891, there is still hope that it is not extinct? May 9, 2013 (9789 views)

Milestones:

California Condor (not taken by me)
King Vulture (not taken by me)
It gives me great pleasure to thank Rufous-crowned Sparrow for outstanding contributions to Wikipedia's coverage of birds by awarding these Imperial triple crown jewels. DurovaCharge! 23:25, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

1st edit (reason for coming back to Wikipedia): Greenville Zoo
100th edit: Talk:Alpine Chough
250th edit: Talk:Small-billed Tinamou
500th edit: St. Helena Earwig
750th edit: California Condor
1000th edit: Catullus 2
2000th edit: Antiguan Racer
2500th edit: Emu
3000th edit: Rufous-crowned Sparrow
4000th edit: Buff-necked Ibis
5000th edit: Schomburgk's Deer
6000th edit: Sulawesi Owl
7000th edit: Purple-throated Cotinga
7500th edit: Crested Shelduck
8000th edit: McCown's Longspur
9000th edit: Sulu Bleeding-heart DYK Nomination

Quick Cuts:
Wikipedia:Citation templatesTemplate:ConvertFlickr Tool
{{WP Birds|class=stub|importance=low}}
<ref name=" Howell ">{{cite book | last = Howell | first = Steve N.G. | coauthors = Sophie Webb | title = [[A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America]] | publisher = Oxford University Press | date = 1995| location = New York| isbn = 0-19-854012-4 }}</ref
<ref name=" Ridgely">{{Citation| last = Ridgely| first = Robert S| last2 = Gwynne, Jr.| first2 = John A.| title = A Guide to the Birds of Panama with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras| place= Princeton, NJ| publisher = Princeton University Press| year =1989| edition = Second| pages = 84| isbn =0-691-02512-6 }}</ref>
<ref name=" Johnsgard">{{cite book| last = Johnsgard| first = Paul A.| title = The Grouse of the World| publisher = University of Nebraska Press | date = 1983| location = Lincoln, NE| pages =| isbn =0-8032-2558-X }}</ref>
{{cite book| last =Mackenzie| first =John P.S.| title = Birds of Prey| publisher = NorthWood, Inc| date = 1986| location = Toronto| pages =30| isbn =1-55971-019-5 }}
<ref name="WWFE">{{cite encyclopedia| title =INSERT ME | encyclopedia =The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Extinct Species of Modern Times| volume =1| pages =INSERT ME| publisher =Beacham Publishing | date =1997}}</ref>
<ref name="WeidensaulA">{{cite book| last = Weidensaul| first =Scott | title =Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding| publisher =Harcourt, Inc| date =2007| location =New York| pages =INSERT ME | isbn =978-0-15-101247-3 }}</ref>
<ref name="Yearbook"> {{cite book| title =Rare Birds Yearbook 2008| publisher =MagDig Media Lmtd| date =2007| location =England| pages =INSERT ME| isbn =978-0-9552607-3-5 }}</ref>
<ref name="EllisNTB">{{cite book| last = Ellis| first = Richard| authorlink = Richard Ellis (biologist) | title = No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species| publisher = Harper Perrenial | date = 2004| location = New York| pages = INSERT ME| isbn =0-06-055804-0 }}</ref>
<ref name="Audubon">{{cite book| last = Thompson| first = Ida| title = National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fossils| publisher = Alfred A. Knopf| date = 1982| location = New York| pages = INSERT ME| isbn =0-394-52412-8 }}</ref>
<ref name="Yearbook09"> {{cite book| title =Rare Birds Yearbook 2009| publisher =MagDig Media Lmtd| date =2008| location =England| pages =INSERT ME| isbn =978-0-9552607-5-9 }}</ref>
<ref name="Kaufman">{{cite book| last = Kaufman| first = Kenn| authorlink = Kenn Kaufman| title = Lives of North American Birds| publisher = Houghton Mifflin| date = 1996| location = Boston| pages = 583| isbn = 0-618-15988-6}}</ref>
<ref name=" Daniels ">{{cite book | last = Daniels | first = Jaret C. | title = Butterflies of the Carolinas | publisher = Adventure Publications, Inc. | date = 2003 | location = Cambridge, MN | pages = | isbn = 1-59193-007-3}}</ref>
<ref name=" Beolens">{{Cite book | last = Beolens | first = Bo| coauthors = Michael Watkins | title = Whose Bird?: Common Bird Names and the People they Commemorate | publisher = Yale University Press | date = 2003 | location = New Haven, CT| isbn = 030010359X }}</ref>
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Kepler| first = Angela| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Sargatal| editor3-first =Jordi | title = Family Todidae (Todies) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 6. Mousebirds to Hornbills| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2001| isbn=84-87334-30-X|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Brown| first = Leslie H.| editor-last = Brown | editor-first = Leslie H.| editor2-last = Urban| editor2-first =Emil K. | editor3-last = Newman| editor3-first =Kenneth| title = Balaenicipitidae, Shoebill | encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume I | publisher = Academic Press| year = 1983 | location = London | isbn =0-12-137301-0 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Crowe| first = Tim M.| last2 = Keith| first2 = Stuart| last3 = Brown| first3 = Leslie H.| editor-last = Urban| editor-first = Emil K.| editor2-last = Fry| editor2-first =C. Hilary | editor3-last = Keith| editor3-first =Stuart| title = Phasianidae, guineafowl, Congo Peacock, quail, partridges and francolins | encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume II | publisher = Academic Press| year = 1986 | location = London | isbn =0-12-137302-9 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Craig| first = Adrian J. F. K.| editor-last = Fry| editor-first = C. Hilary| editor2-last = Keith| editor2-first =Stuart | editor3-last = Urban| editor3-first =Emil K.| title = Genus ''Quelea'' | encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume VII | publisher = Princeton University Press| year = 2004 | location = Princeton| isbn =0-691-11952-X |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Fry| first = C. Hilary| editor-last = Fry| editor-first = C. Hilary| editor2-last = Keith| editor2-first =Stuart | editor3-last = Urban| editor3-first =Emil K.| title = Picathartidae, picathartes | encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume VI | publisher = Academic Press| year = 2000 | location = London| isbn =0-12-137306-1 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Fry| first = C. Hilary| editor-last = Fry| editor-first = C. Hilary| editor2-last = Keith| editor2-first =Stuart | editor3-last = Urban| editor3-first =Emil K.| title = Malaconotidae, bush-shrikes| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume VI | publisher = Academic Press| year = 2000 | location = London| isbn =0-12-137306-1 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Fry| first = C. Hilary| editor-last = Fry| editor-first = C. Hilary| editor2-last = Keith| editor2-first =Stuart | editor3-last = Urban| editor3-first =Emil K.| title = Laniidae, true shrikes| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume VI | publisher = Academic Press| year = 2000 | location = London| isbn =0-12-137306-1 |ref=harv}}
{{cite book| last = Lefranc| first = Norbert| title = Shrikes: A Guide to the Shrikes of the World| publisher = Yale University Press| date = 1997| location = New Haven| isbn =0-300-07336-4|ref=harv }}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Grimes| first = Llewellyn| editor-last = Fry| editor-first = C. Hilary| editor2-last = Keith| editor2-first =Stuart | editor3-last = Urban| editor3-first =Emil K.| title = ''Chaetops pycnopygius''| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume VI | publisher = Academic Press| year = 2000 | location = London| isbn =0-12-137306-1 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Fry| first = C. Hilary| editor-last = Fry| editor-first = C. Hilary| editor2-last = Keith| editor2-first =Stuart | editor3-last = Urban| editor3-first =Emil K.| title = ''Chaetops frenatus''| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume VI | publisher = Academic Press| year = 2000 | location = London| isbn =0-12-137306-1 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Keith| first = Stuart| editor-last3 = Fry| editor-first3 = C. Hilary| editor-last = Keith| editor-first =Stuart | editor2-last = Urban| editor2-first =Emil K.| title = Pycnonotidae, bulbuls| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume IV | publisher = Academic Press| year = 1992| location = London| isbn =0-12-137304-5 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Fry| first = C. Hilary| editor-last3 = Fry| editor-first3 = C. Hilary| editor-last = Keith| editor-first =Stuart | editor2-last = Urban| editor2-first =Emil K.| title = Genus ''Alauda''| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume IV | publisher = Academic Press| year = 1992| location = London| isbn =0-12-137304-5 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Fry| first = C. Hilary| editor-last3 = Fry| editor-first3 = C. Hilary| editor-last = Keith| editor-first =Stuart | editor2-last = Urban| editor2-first =Emil K.| title = ''Heteromirafra sidamoensis''| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume IV | publisher = Academic Press| year = 1992| location = London| isbn =0-12-137304-5 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Dean| first = Richard| last2 = Keith| first2 = Stuart| editor-last3 = Fry| editor-first3 = C. Hilary| editor-last = Keith| editor-first =Stuart | editor2-last = Urban| editor2-first =Emil K.| title = ''Heteromirafra archeri''| encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume IV | publisher = Academic Press| year = 1992| location = London| isbn =0-12-137304-5 |ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Holyoak| first = David T. | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Sargatal | editor3-first =Jordi | title = Family Aegothelidae (Owlet-nightjars) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 5. Barn Owls to Hummingbirds| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 1999|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Holyoak| first = David T. | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Sargatal | editor3-first =Jordi | title = Family Podargidae (Frogmouths) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 5. Barn Owls to Hummingbirds| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 1999|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Schuchmann| first = Karl-Ludwig | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Sargatal | editor3-first =Jordi | title = Family Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 5. Barn Owls to Hummingbirds| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 1999|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Hawkins| first = Frank | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Christie| editor3-first =David| title = Family Philepittidae (Asities) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 8. Broadbills to Tapaculos| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2003|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Reino| first = Luís| last2 = Santana| first2 = Joana| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Christie| editor3-first =David| title = Family Laniidae (Shrikes) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 13. Penduline-tits to Shrikes| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2008|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Cheke| first = Robert A.| last2 = Mann| first2 = Clive F.| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Christie| editor3-first =David| title = Family Decaeidae (Flowerpeckers) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 13. Penduline-tits to Shrikes| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2008|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Fry| first = C. Hilary| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Christie| editor3-first =David| title = Family Malaconotidae (Bush-shrikes) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 14. Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2009|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Yamagishi| first = Satoshi| last2 = Nakamura| first2 = Masahiko| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Christie| editor3-first =David| title = Family Vangidae (Vangas) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 14. Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2009|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Folch| first = Anna | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Sargatal | editor3-first =Jordi | title = Family Casuariidae (Cassowaries) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 1. Ostrich to Ducks| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 1992|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Elliot| first = Andrew | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Sargatal | editor3-first =Jordi | title = Family Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 1. Ostrich to Ducks| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 1992|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = McGowen| first = Philip J. K.| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Sargatal | editor3-first =Jordi | title = Family Phasianidae (Pheasants and Partridges) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 1994|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Ryan| first = Peter G.| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Christie| editor3-first =David| title = Family Phasianidae (Pheasants and Partridges) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 9. Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2004|ref=harv}}
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Donald| first = Paul F.| editor-last = del Hoyo | editor-first = Josep | editor2-last = Elliott | editor2-first =Andrew | editor3-last = Christie| editor3-first =David| title = Family Phasianidae (Pheasants and Partridges) | encyclopedia = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] | volume = 9. Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails| publisher = Lynx Editions | location = Barcelona | year = 2004|ref=harv}}RAZO
Fishpool L. & Tobias J. (2005) "Family Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls) in del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2005). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-72-5 FORMAT ME
{{cite encyclopedia | last = Crowe| first = Tim M.| last2 = Keith| first2 = Stuart| last3 = Brown| first3 = Leslie H.| editor3-last = Urban| editor3-first = Emil K.| editor-last = Fry| editor-first =C. Hilary | editor2-last = Keith| editor2-first =Stuart| title = Phasianidae, guineafowl, Congo Peacock, quail, partridges and francolins | encyclopedia = The Birds of Africa Volume III | publisher = Academic Press| year = 1988 | location = London | isbn =0-12-137303-7 |ref=harv}}