12 replies to this topic

[Cobal]

I am still new to this and I am having trouble with sparrows. I was wondering if someone can tell me what types of sparrows I have here and how they know that. Hopefully it is ok to post a bunch of pictures. Thanks for the help. By the way all of these were around central Ohio.

[meghann]

I'll answer a few, and then look again.

Think the first two are chipping, and third is a field.

Fourth-white crowned?
5-I dunno
6-song?
7-song?
8-I dunno
9-On the right is a field I believe

[Liam]

1. Chipping Sparrow
2. Chipping Sparrow
3. Field Sparrow
4. White-crowned Sparrow
5. American Tree Sparrow
6. Song Sparrow
7. Song Sparrow
8. Savannah Sparrow
9. Field Sparrows

Quite a collection of sparrows, there!

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

#1 Chipping Sparrow
#2 Chipping Sparrow
#3 Field Sparrow
#4 White-crowned Sparrow
#5 American Tree Sparrow
#6 Song Sparrow
#7 Song Sparrow
#8 Savannah Sparrow
#9 Field Sparrow

Nice shots!

EDIT: Darn it, you two, I almost made it! xD

[meghann]

Woohoo! The ones I actually ventured a guess I was right! Maybe someday I'll even give PoorMatty a run for his money. :-P

[Cobal]

How can you tell that #5 is a Tree Sparrow?

[meghann]

How can you tell that #5 is a Tree Sparrow?

I almost put American Tree in my list, but wasn't feeling confident. To me, they look like chipping sparrows, but with a reddish brown eyeline instead of black like the chipping. That, plus rusty cap on their head, and no streaks on belly points to that one. In my humble opinion, anyway.

[Liam]

The rich-colored crown and bicolored bill make it an American Tree Sparrow.

[meghann]

The rich-colored crown and bicolored bill make it an American Tree Sparrow.

Ooh, bicolored bill. I hadn't noticed that. Another difference to file away in the memory banks. This is the one that often has a dark spot on the breast too, right?

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Ooh, bicolored bill. I hadn't noticed that. Another difference to file away in the memory banks. This is the one that often has a dark spot on the breast too, right?

You've got it!

[Cobal]

Thanks for all of your help. White Crowned, Tree, and Savannah Sparrows are all lifers that I did not realize that I had. Glad that I asked.

[mtdavid]

IMO bicolored bill and central breast spot are the best marks for Am. Tree vs. Chipping. The crowns are very similarly colored in breeding season, and the gray eyebrow/brown eyeline vs. white eyebrow/black eyeline is not that striking of a difference without close looks in good light.

[PoorMatty]

I agree with mtdavid. When you have the clean cut distinction between the dark gray upper mandible and golden yellow lower mandible, you can be sure it's not a Chipping or Field Sparrow. Also, it goes without saying, but I agree with Chipping, Chipping, Field, White-crowned, American Tree, Song, Song, Savannah, and Field Sparrows.