10 replies to this topic

[Coastie]

South Cape Beach, Cape Cod Apr 9

Sanderling?


apr9 011 by Coastie32, on Flickr

Next two. Savannah Sparrow?


apr9 014 by Coastie32, on Flickr


apr9 015 by Coastie32, on Flickr

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

You've got both right.

[Liam]

Definitely a Sanderling for the first bird.
The second bird is a bit odd, but I'm pretty sure it's a Savannah Sparrow with those bright yellow lores and the stubby tail.

[Grandpa577]

Definitely a Sanderling for the first bird.
The second bird is a bit odd, but I'm pretty sure it's a Savannah Sparrow with those bright yellow lores and the stubby tail.

I agree the sparrow looks odd if it is a Savannah. The tail is not notched and there is no fine streaking on the breast. Is the yellow lores sufficient to ID it?

[Liam]

I agree the sparrow looks odd if it is a Savannah. The tail is not notched and there is no fine streaking on the breast. Is the yellow lores sufficient to ID it?

The only other sparrow I can think of with lores that bright is the Grasshopper Sparrow, which doesn't match up to this bird.

[Coastie]

Seaside? Has some yellow....

[Grandpa577]

The only other sparrow I can think of with lores that bright is the Grasshopper Sparrow, which doesn't match up to this bird.

I agree. Seaside Sparrow can have a yellow lores but the facial pattern doesn't match (e.g., no eyeline) And yet, most Id descriptions of the Savannah say it does have a notched tail and may have yellow lores. (Apparently, they have never seen this bird.) Sure would like to hear from Matty.

[JimBob]

I was thinking maybe a White-throated Sparrow? I think that Savannah Sparrow is the best match.

[Liam]

I was thinking maybe a White-throated Sparrow? I think that Savannah Sparrow is the best match.

I see dozens of White-throated Sparrows everyday, they're nothing like this bird. They're more demarcated and darker with a patterned back.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

It looks like a Savannah, but a bit paler than usual (those lores really stick out). Potentially an Ipswich subspecies? I know they stray that far south along the coast during winter.

[PoorMatty]

I think it's sometimes easy to somewhat hastily single out yellow lores as a telltale Savannah Sparrow mark and lots of field guides do the same thing, but the fact of the matter is that many sparrows have at least some yellow in the lores (more or less all the Ammodramus and some of the Peucaea) and many Savannahs show little to no yellow. In this case though, when combined with the streaky breast, short tail, and rather dainty bill, the mark is good, as this is a (oddly pale) Savannah Sparrow. Tail shape can occasionally be tricky cause it's a very fluid thing. If the bird flicks its tail open, which this one is doing in both photos, the notch pretty much disappears.