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Bird ID Please?
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Posted by christinmk (My Page) on Sat, Jan 21, 12 at 17:37
Hey there!
Wow, all these years on GW and I never found out there was a bird forum here! Anyway, I was hoping you guys could help me figure out what this little fellow is?
Frontal shot:
Second shot of the back of his head and back:
Sorry to bother you guys with an ID. I tried to look it up myself on whatbird.com, but the only things it came up with were a Lincoln's Sparrow and a couple types of Thrushes. I'm not sure those are it. I even went thru the online list of birds common in our area and didn't see him. This bird does have the sort of wavy brown striping on the breast like that of the Lincoln's Sparrow, but mine seems to be overall a bit darker in color (although I suppose coloration can change due to the season??). As you can see from the second pic, the little bird has brown stripes running down the back of his head too. This little guy is about the same size as a common sparrow, although perhaps a smidge bigger and a little more 'pot-bellied' in a way. The mannerisms of this bird were different from your regular sparrow too. He (or she) liked being near the ground, hopping, scratching, and pecking around. Didn't scare off as easily as sparrows. He/she also seemed to hold it's tail upright all the time as it hopped around.
Sorry if that is all too much detail in description- wasn't sure how much you would need to ID him. Appreciate any help you can give! Thanks so much...
CMK
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| Fox sparrow? I can't see the picture too well, but your description sounds like one. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Fox sparrow
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| It kind of looks like the female House Finches we get at our feeders. |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| Thanks guys! I'm thinking it is likely the Fox Sparrow Elly mentioned. My bird has the same brown/gray stripe by the eye, which the House Finch doesn't seem to have. -Ginni, totally forgot that the female HF has a wavy streaked breast pattern too! There are only a couple house finches around here, so I don't always get a chance to get a close look at them.
Thanks again
CMK |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| Also, Fox sparrows do the ground shuffle. : ) |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| Song sparrow. The head stripes are much more pronounced in the bird pictured and the breast spot is dark black. A fox sparrow would have less distinct crown/head stripes approaching solid in some color forms. Also, the breast spot of a fox sparrow would be more brown/rusty. Song sparrows often hold their tail up like a wren, something I haven't seen a fox sparrow do. Further, the stripe on the side of the head is much more pronouced than a fox sparrow would exhibit, except in the red fox sparrow (rufous race). However, this bird is not nearly rusty colored enough to be a "red" fox sparrow. Song Sparrows also shuffle their feed when foraging in leaf litter or under feeders. BN |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| I hope you don't take offense but just where in those pics is the bird? I tried some prescription glasses. I tried a magnifier. Nope. :-) Can't see it. The Juncos around my house also shuffle. |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| I am quite sure this is a song sparrow. Note the central black spot on his chest. Hope this helps from North Carolina. |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| I would agree it does seem to be a song sparrow. They have that black spot. |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| I cropped the bird in the first picture and brightened it up a little bit. 
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RE: Bird ID Please?
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| I slid the 2nd pic to Irfanview on my comp and outlined the same area as your cropping. Then blew it way up from there; finally saw it. |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| BN, that was really great description/comparison between the two. Thanks much for your input. Think you, Jan, and beegood are right on about it being a song sparrow! -mxyplx, maybe a new prescription is in order??? ;-) This guy isn't a Junco, but don't you just love those little guys? Never used to have them (or at least see them) around this particular area until a few years ago. Now they are all over the place and I am very glad of it! Think the ones around here may be the Oregon Junco...
CMK |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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RE: Bird ID Please?
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| I still can't see the picture. I was going on the op description. Fox sparrows also, on first glance, seem much bigger than other sparrows. |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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RE: Bird ID Please?
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| I get lots of song sparrows each winter and love their song. They also love the millet seed! |
RE: Bird ID Please?
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| Definitely a song sparrow. We have lots of them here. |
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