Juvenile American Tree Sparrow (Feb 2014)

[BetCrooks]

I was watching a flock of American Tree Sparrows last spring. Most had the yellow lower mandible. A couple, though, had an all-dark bill.

Here's a fuzzy example:

[attachment=0:ufthwo3n]_DSC0849.JPG[/attachment:ufthwo3n]

Are the ones with dark bills like this juvenile American Tree Sparrows? Or are they another type of sparrow?

[Canoncan]

It is an American Tree Sparrow, you say Spring however it says February. I also assume local, based on that also American Trees Sparrow first year bird?

[BetCrooks]

Ooops sorry, yes I meant winter not spring as it was February. It was in with a flock of definite Am Tree Sparrows in some spruces along the shore of Lake Ontario. I just have a simple field guide and it doesn't tell me if the bill starts out dark on the younger ones, and then gets two-coloured later on.

Thanks for your comments!