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Arizona Sparrow

Last post 11-06-2009, 4:47 AM by mj3151. 6 replies.
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  •  11-05-2009, 9:35 PM 124010

    Arizona Sparrow

    Attachment: unkn.jpg
    I thought the bill on this bird looked a bit long.  Still in a sparrow stupor.


    Latest Birds: Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Rufous-backed Robin, Crissal Thrasher
  •  11-05-2009, 9:40 PM 124012 in reply to 124010

    Re: Arizona Sparrow

    Hmmm, taking into account that I'm pretty much useless at sparrows, I'm pretty sure this is an Ammodramus, and of those... I'd say Baird's. On a hunch. Mostly due to the nice white supercilium and lack of orange I'm seeing. Take it all with a grain of salt, however.

    ::EDIT:: There I go, taking a stab at an idea without looking at a range map. I dunno, I still say it looks like an Ammodramus, but Grasshopper would be the closest thing to you, perhaps a juvenile.


    Total birds seen: 205
    Latest lifers:
    Brown Creeper, Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow
    Favorite lifers:
    Black-billed Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork
  •  11-05-2009, 10:10 PM 124013 in reply to 124012

    Re: Arizona Sparrow

    I would tentatively call it a savannah sparrow, but I could stand to be more sure.  It doesn't strike me as an Ammodramus.  You don't happen to have any photos that show the front of the bird, do you, Matt? 
  •  11-05-2009, 10:21 PM 124014 in reply to 124013

    Re: Arizona Sparrow

    My ID of Ammodramus was mostly based of the long bill and seemingly large head, the latter of which could be a trick of the nape feathers while the head is turned. In any case, that long beak is confusing me, it doesn't seem to properly match any sparrow I can think of.

    Total birds seen: 205
    Latest lifers:
    Brown Creeper, Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow
    Favorite lifers:
    Black-billed Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork
  •  11-05-2009, 10:22 PM 124015 in reply to 124013

    Re: Arizona Sparrow

    Attachment: panel.jpg
      Here are two other shots of the same bird.


    Latest Birds: Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Rufous-backed Robin, Crissal Thrasher
  •  11-05-2009, 11:04 PM 124021 in reply to 124015

    Re: Arizona Sparrow

    The bill doesn't look as odd from this new angle, and I think the illusion of a large-looking head is due to the position the bird is in.  From these two new photos, I feel pretty good about an ID of savannah sparrow.
  •  11-06-2009, 4:47 AM 124027 in reply to 124021

    Re: Arizona Sparrow

    PoorMatty:
    The bill doesn't look as odd from this new angle, and I think the illusion of a large-looking head is due to the position the bird is in.  From these two new photos, I feel pretty good about an ID of savannah sparrow.

    I'd second that. The short tail and yellowish eyebrow stripe point to Savannah.

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