FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Need help ID'ing sparrow please. Thanks :)

[FINCH64@xxxxxxx]

Earlier this year we had White-throated Sparrows feeding on the ground under 
the feeder. I saw them often enough to be pretty confident in recognizing 
them at first sight. The stripes on their head seemed to have a kind of 
"marbled look" to me. I saw the distinctive yellow on their heads as well. 
They seemed to be kind of chunky birds and they sat pretty low to the ground 
when they fed.

Yesterday I had a bird on the ground under the feeder and I had no idea what 
it was at first. I ran for my binoculars and thought that it was either a 
White-throated Sparrow or White-crowned Sparrow but I had a hard time 
deciding which. The way it acted and it's general shape - thin and 
stream-lined almost reminded me of a towhee. It's legs a bit longer than the 
White-throated Sparrows I have seen earlier this year. It held it's long tail 
cocked up at an angle and it hopped about very much like a towhee. I was 
instantly drawn to the large white stripe on it's head as well. Not a 
"marbled look" to my eyes at all. Very bright, wide, snowy white stripe on 
it's head.
It's bill and legs were pink.

It was foraging around in the weeds at the base of the tree. I ran to get my 
field guide to see if there were some definite characteristics which would 
tip the balance for a proper ID. I could only find that the White-throated 
Sparrow has a distinctly white throat. I couldn't see the bird well enough to 
discern that. It was foraging in the weeds with it's head down.

I ran back to the window but... "this bird had flown. So I light the fire. 
Isn't it good Norwegian wood"... Sorry. Just kidding. I couldn't resist ;-)

But it was gone and I didn't get another chance to look at it.

Based on my description, can anyone confirm I might have had a White-crowned 
Sparrow yesterday? I'm going to call it a White-throated Sparrow for now 
since they are far more common here.

And if I see it again - what is the best discerning characteristic between 
them?

Thanks so much for any assistance with my question.

Barry Jernigan
Murfreesboro, TN

PS Yesterday I noticed the Common Grackles were back in the yard in large 
numbers for the first time since the big freeze this winter. I wonder if 
there is a connection with storms. A snow storm sent them away and a flood 
(our gutter is overflowing) brought them back? 
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