[Umpqua Birds] Re: Need Help Id'ing Passerine
- From: Matthew G Hunter <matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: umpquabirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:26:33 -0800
Hi Jimmy,
Your description brought this to mind:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewghunter/8690903211/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewghunter/15036650121/
In a group of sparrows like that, Savannah is the one that really stands
out as pale. Lincoln's can look a little pale sometimes, but not that much
really. Savannah, while slightly "shorter" than a Lincoln's, is actually a
larger bird (weight/bulk wise), but with a relatively short tail, which may
be why you kept staring at the tail. Savannah's are highly variable in
plumage, and sometimes have little or no visible yellow on the face (as in
the photos above).
However, neither Savannah or Lincoln's have an unmarked head. If it really
did have an plain, unmarked head, then female House Finch--also noticeably
pale among a group of sparrows--should be seriously considered.
I saw your other email leaning toward Lincoln's. Let us know what you
think, ... or find tomorrow....
Matt
On Thu, Jan 29, 2015 at 6:20 PM, James Billstine <billstinj@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Hey everyone,
>
> I birded the blackberry bush patches on Industrial Way Road just off exit
> 103 today and I cam across a strange bird. It was in with a flock of
> Golden-Crowned Sparrows, and when it popped out I could immediately tell
> that it was much lighter overall. I got close enough to identify all of the
> surrounding birds in the flock, which included a juvenile white-crowned and
> an adult white-crowned, but I couldn't figure out what this bird was.
>
> My immediate observations were:
>
> 1. It was a much lighter, more pale bird that the golden crowned sparrows
> it was perched next too. As I crept closer I was continuously able to pick
> it back out when I brought my bins back up to my eyes.
>
> 2. It had a very pale head and nape, almost a seemingly unmarked head.
>
> 3. It had some strong streaking on the upper part of the breast.
>
> 4. It's head profile reminded me of the shape of an amodramus sparrow like
> a grasshopper sparrow, or maybe like a goldfinch/siskin, but I carefully
> studied my sibley and found it not matching up exactly like those birds.
> Close to a siskin, but the barring on the breast was abruptly ended at the
> belly. Also maybe a lincoln's but I really studied the head and it seemed
> as plain as a golden-crowneds, just without the gold or black.
>
> 5. It's tail caught my eye for some reason, something about it seemed
> unique, or familiar, or off. I am not sure but I remember looking at it's
> tail and thinking: what is up with that tail? It seemed very short, stubby,
> and squared off.
>
> 6. It seemed a little bit slimmer and smaller than the golden-crowned
> sparrows that it was around, but size is difficult to judge, especially
> when it is a paler bird.
>
> 7. It's bill also seemed more petite than the golden-crowneds around it.
>
> I feel like I am overlooking an ID of what it is, like it's something that
> is common around here but I can't put my finger on it. Any thoughts?
>
>
> I'll definitely be checking it out before school tomorrow.
>
>
>
>
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