Whatbird.com

On 7/4 I saw the bird in this photo at about 10,000 feet in the White Mountains of eastern California.  It's the range just east of the Sierra, so is pretty dry up there.  It was springtime up there, and this guy and his/her mate were pretty actively, well, mating. 

It looks like the pictures I see of a Chipping Sparrow, but the habitat doesn't seem to match what is described for them, and would seem to match better a Rufous-crowned sparrow.  Any ideas?  Unfortunately, this is the only photo that my husband took of the bird, but it does give a pretty look at the pattern on the head.

 

 

 

 

---

Janet Roth
http://suisekiart.com

Chipping Sparrow - a Rufous-crowned Sparrow would show a grayish eyeline, and would be more grayish overall.

Yep, Chipping.

Raptor, TheGrine - thanks!  that's what I thought, but the discrepancy in the habitat gave me some pause.  Cheers - Janet

---

Janet Roth
http://suisekiart.com

I didn't know that there were any White Mountains except for the one in New Hampshire!

---

____________________________________________

"You can cage a bird, but you cannot make him sing."
Andy

Andy, the White Mountains are very high mountains just east of the Sierra - part of the Great Basin province.  The Great Basin Bristlecone Pines, some of which are more than 4500 years old, live in the high altitudes of the area.  Two groves,  the Schulman Grove and the Patriarch Grove, can be visited in the White Mountains within the Inyo National Forest.  And that is a trip you won't soon forget!  They are called White Mountains because of the appearance from the dolomite (limestone) in which these trees live.

---

Janet Roth
http://suisekiart.com