Savannah Sparrow Colonel Samuel Smith Park Toronto Ontario Oct 4 (1 Viewer)

[49bentley]

Can someone please confirm this to be a Savannah Sparrow? Taken in Colonel Samuel Smith Park Toronto Ontario Oct
Thanks
Chris

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

I'm not an expert but I recall the hallmarks of savannah sparrows to be a short tail and slender beak. Based on that I would say this is not a savannah.

 

[49bentley]

Thanks MelospizaMelodiaFan.

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

Thanks MelospizaMelodiaFan.

Google suggests either song sparrow or swamp sparrow, but without a clear shot of the chest, I cannot confirm it is a song sparrow.

 

[Bewick]

Google suggests either song sparrow or swamp sparrow, but without a clear shot of the chest, I cannot confirm it is a song sparrow.

I can confirm its most definitely not a swamp sparrow, going to do some research to produce a more conclusive answer but I do have a strong suspicion on what species it is.

 

[49bentley]

Thanks MelospizaMelodiaFan and Bewick.

 

[qwerty5]

Looks like a juvenile Song Sparrow

 

[Bewick]

Looks like a juvenile Song Sparrow

Agreed, I see why OP confused it for a savannah sparrow, it appears to have a yellowish tinge to its face- though this is pretty ordinary for a juvenile song sparrow. As mentioned longer tail and heavier bill also points to song sparrow primaries and greater coverts also appear to have the reddish-brownish of a song sparrow instead of the paler brown to straw coloured greater coverts and primaries of the Savannah sparrow.

 

[49bentley]

Thanks Qwerty5 and Bewick.

 

[rkj]

I can't see what else it might be, but October would be late for a Song Sparrow still to be in juvenile plumage. Was this early or late in the month?

 

[49bentley]

Thanks RKJ. Going through the pic properties it appears pic was taken on Sep 5. I only processed it in Oct.

 

[AveryBartels]

This is a good reminder of the importance of shape - the bigger bill and longer tail very quickly rule Savannah out. I will also point out that there appear to be 3 different individual Song Sparrows involved: pic 1 = adult in moult, no tail, missing the central flight feathers of wing (consistent with early stage of moult); pic 2-3 young bird (very pointed tail feathers); pic 4 = young bird still apparently in largely juvenile plumage still (very loose textured body feathers, less distinct face patterning) presumably from a late brood

 

[49bentley]

Thanks Avery.