Hi group! I can't for the life of me identity a bird that I've seen many times in the winter near Carbondale, Colorado. It is a sparrow-sized bird that I've seen foraging in the snow or in dirt patches near snow in a sage brush mountain valley. I've seen this bird alone or in small groups. They are always on the ground, not in the sage brush or trees.
It is mostly gray and white with a very notable black collar on it's chest. The closest identification I can make is a Sage Sparrow, that's not it, I don't think. Maybe it's a Lonspur or Bunting? I apologize for the poor photo quality; this is the best I could take. The bird in the photo looks bigger than it is because has its feathers puffed out to stay warm. Thank you so much!
It is mostly gray and white with a very notable black collar on it's chest. The closest identification I can make is a Sage Sparrow, that's not it, I don't think. Maybe it's a Lonspur or Bunting? I apologize for the poor photo quality; this is the best I could take. The bird in the photo looks bigger than it is because has its feathers puffed out to stay warm. Thank you so much!
