FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Re: unidentified sparrow

[LeighTern@xxxxxxx]

All, 
I saw an interesting Sparrow on the border of my backyard and the adjoining 
farm field at my new place here in Bridgewater  ( near Harrisonburg)  It was 
perched on a sapling which straddled a barbed wire fence covered in honeysuckle 
and such i.e. your typical hedgerow type habitat. There is a very tiny pond 
surrounded by cat-tails nearby. 
Here are the id marks which I wrote down after the bird flew off. 

1. Yellowish area on breast w/ fine dark streaks. This was a well defined 
area surrounded by white belly and also clearly delineated by white above near 
the throat area. 

2. yellow/orangish/ochre color on side of face. No distinctive markings on 
the nape which was a solid darker color. 

3. Top of head was striped ( unfortunately I didn't write down  whether is 
was white or yellow striped or grey striped and now I can't be certain of my 
recollection .... ) 

4. thin moustachial marks but no central spot
5.  Tail =solid color , whitish grey from below when folded. tail was 
slightly indented. 
6. Feet were pinkish red about the same  color of the head of an adult Turkey 
Vulture
7.  Bill small -solid greyish white color. 
8. wings solid brown/rust
9. Sides were streaked down the flanks 
10. Belly white
11. Head seemed a little flattish

I think the well defined yellowish breast area with thin dark streaks was the 
most striking field mark I noticed. 

Overall the bird seemed small and very bright looking for a sparrow. I 
suspect it is either LeConte's, Henslow's or one of the Saltmarsh Sparrows. 
Unfortunately I didn't get enough details to really sinch the id. A bit rusty 
on my 
birding skills. Also there must be a few juvenile sparrows that could 
complicate 
things. 

Any ideas would be most welcomed. I guess I got beat , but one doesn't expect 
to walk onto one's back porch/deck and see a  sparrow of this sort. It took 
me a while to get in the id mode. 

William Leigh
Bridgewater VA


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