Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Misty01 on April 28, 2009, 11:35:09 AM

Title: another sparrow
Post by: Misty01 on April 28, 2009, 11:35:09 AM

ok so the rain has brought me about 10 of these little guys, they are smaller than a house sparrow, about the size of a dark eyed junco and they feed from the ground like a white throated sparrow. I can't find them in my bird books. I tried googling sparrows and well that was really exhausting. lol Hope someone knows what these little guys are. Sorry the pictures aren't the greatest.

(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/lastcast01/DSC02804.jpg)
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/lastcast01/DSC02806.jpg)
(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/lastcast01/DSC02807.jpg)

Title:
Post by: Andreas Jonsson on April 28, 2009, 11:56:43 AM

White throated sparrow!

Title:
Post by: JMCDA on April 28, 2009, 01:08:17 PM

'Tis white throated sparrow - tan version.  Swarms of them around right now, they must have had a good winter!

Joann

Title:
Post by: Kin Lau on April 28, 2009, 01:50:14 PM

Yes, those are the juvs.

Title:
Post by: Misty01 on April 28, 2009, 03:41:10 PM

awsome thanks for the help guys  :D

Title:
Post by: silverfoxx on April 29, 2009, 12:12:50 AM

there is a tan-stripe morph I'm not entirely sure how you distinguish them from juveniles who also have tan-striped crowns – possibly their throats are whiter than the juv's
here is one source showing photos of the white-striped as well as tan-striped adults
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whit ... Sparrow/id (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-throated_Sparrow/id)

Title:
Post by: JMCDA on April 29, 2009, 09:09:30 AM

Quote from: "silverfoxx"

there is a tan-stripe morph I'm not entirely sure how you distinguish them from juveniles who also have tan-striped crowns – possibly their throats are whiter than the juv's
here is one source showing photos of the white-striped as well as tan-striped adults
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Whit ... Sparrow/id (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-throated_Sparrow/id)

That is exactly what I was wondering too!  I looked thru the sparrow book but couldn't find any info on how to tell the juve from the tan stripe adult?

Joann

Title:
Post by: Pat Hodgson on April 29, 2009, 10:23:25 AM

The first way to tell them apart is to know when not to bother - there are no juvs in the spring.  
Later in the year, the juvs have heavier breast streaking and less distinct facial patterns.

Title:
Post by: JMCDA on April 29, 2009, 11:37:40 AM

Quote from: "Pat Hodgson"

The first way too tell them apart is to know when not to bother - there are no juvs in the spring.  
Later in the year, the juvs have heavier breast streaking and less distinct facial patterns.

Well that makes perfect sense doesn't it - LOL