Belding's Sparrow

Whittam · **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2010, 07:26:37 PM

What a good bird! Well done! Cheers Terry

gary yankech · **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2010, 10:16:51 PM

cool....when and where was this taken?

gary yankech

aviator · **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2010, 08:58:07 AM

Two weeks ago at Bolsa Chica, CA

thouc · **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2010, 10:15:51 AM

Nice pictures!

Just in case someone (like me before I checked it out) is confused about what a Belding's Sparrow is. It's a subspecies of Savannah Sparrow. But according to my National Geographic field guide the beldingi subspecies is supposed to be darker than the bird on the picture. This one looks more like the nevadensis subspecies, but I have no experience with either of them, so I'm not sure.

/Thomas

lovetobird · **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2010, 07:41:08 PM

Nice catch

aviator · **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2010, 10:14:00 PM

Thanks Thomas for your observations. You may be correct. I was puzzled by the bird until I saw the photos of Beldings around the refuge and a local birder told me what it was. However there are plenty savannahs and song sparrows around too. I hadn't heard any references to the nevada variation.

ravynne40 · **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2010, 08:58:45 AM

Nice shots, thanks for sharing
I think one also has to consider lighting, was the sun shining on the bird? that could make it look much lighter then usual as well, happens to me all the time!

Irene