VA Birders,
After posting the photo of the "mystery bird" at
http://www.bcplnet.org/birdclub/gallery/Mystery.htm last week I sent a link
for the photo to the Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University and requested
their help with the ID. Those of you who identified this bird as a Clay
Colored Sparrow will be pleased to know that the experts at Cornell agree
with you.
Their reasoning is that in spite of the fact that the bird has a grayish
looking rump, which is often indicative of a Chipping Sparrow, the bird is a
Clay Colored Sparrow for the following reasons:
1. There is a distinct brown face patch.
2. The median crown stripe is too bright for a Chipping Sparrow.
3. There are no black lores as in a Chipping Sparrow.
Forty-two birders from the states of VA, WV and TN participated in
identifying this bird. The number is higher if the experts at Cornell are
included. Following are the voting results:
Clay Colored Sparrow 28
Lark Sparrow 6
Chipping Sparrow 3
Lapland Longspur 1
Brewer's Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Variegated Swamp Sparrow 1
Thanks to all of you who participated, and thanks to the people at Cornell
for their help.
Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
Buchanan County Bird Club
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