Sparrow hatchlings and fledglings - Kentucky, USA (2 Viewers)

[Robert Gundy]

The first photo is of a nest of sparrows. The nest was set in a clump of wetland grass, something like cordgrass, along the shore of a small cypress pond on a reclaimed coal mine in western KY. These guys only lived 3 days before they all disappeared. Predation I suppose.

Hatchling Sparrows by photographerp, on Flickr

This photo is of a fledgling sparrow found in the grasses with worried parents around, but not visible. Fox, White-throated and White-crowned were all common species in that particular field.

Fledgling Sparrow by photographerp, on Flickr

 

[Kratter]

First is not identifiable
The second is a Red-winged Blackbird.

Andy

 

[stonechat1]

Why aren´t the first chicks Red-winged Blackbirds? Nest looks good to me for that species.

 

[Microtus]

This photo is of a fledgling sparrow found in the grasses with worried parents around, but not visible. Fox, White-throated and White-crowned were all common species in that particular field.

When were those sparrow species common in that field? It happens that none of them nest in Kentucky (White-throated might nest in the highest elevations but it would be rather rare as a breeder). When was the photograph taken?

 

[Robert Gundy]

On the sparrow hatchlings: taken June 11, 2012. That was their 2nd day after hatching. The eggs were brown/white mottled. I may even have a picture to dig up.

On the fledgling: taken May 25, 2012. The species known in this field at the time: Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, probably Grasshopper Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Dickcissels, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, American Goldfinch, Mourning Doves, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Kingbird. Obviously some of those are ridiculous to be this fledgling but I thought I'd give a complete list. I worked in that field day in and day out doing telemetry with Northern Bobwhites, so I have a pretty complete list.

 

[Robert Gundy]

On the sparrow hatchlings: taken June 11, 2012. That was their 2nd day after hatching. The eggs were brown/white mottled. I may even have a picture to dig up.

On the fledgling: taken May 25, 2012. The species known in this field at the time: Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, probably Grasshopper Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Dickcissels, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, American Goldfinch, Mourning Doves, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Kingbird. Obviously some of those are ridiculous to be this fledgling but I thought I'd give a complete list. I worked in that field day in and day out doing telemetry with Northern Bobwhites, so I have a pretty complete list.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

Of the sparrow species you listed, only Grasshopper Sparrows regularly breed in Kentucky. Fox, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows would be around in the earlier part of the spring, but would be gone by June, back on their much more northern nesting grounds.

Song, Field, Chipping Sparrows and Eastern Towhee would be common in the breeding season in fields in KY, and Grasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows would be rarer but possible, and Vesper, Savannah and Lark rarer still, but possible.

I'm not sure of the ID of your fledgling, but it looks a bit light colored for Red-winged Blackbird. If it is indeed a sparrow, Song Sparrow would probably be the most likely.

 

[Robert Gundy]

Grasshopper Sparrows were present on the property, but they didn't seem to favor this field. I totally forgot Field Sparrows, they were present. Henslow's were within 1/4 mile but for some reason not this field. Towhees were more common in areas with some refuge but this field was pretty open. Despite the fact that Song Sparrows should have been there, we never confirmed any.
A pair of sparrows were seen fluttering about, seemingly worried about this fledgling. We were setting quail traps at the time and didn't have binos on us.

 

[stonechat1]

These guys only lived 3 days before they all disappeared. Predation I suppose.
[...]
On the sparrow hatchlings: taken June 11, 2012. That was their 2nd day after hatching. [...]

Good conclusion.
Seems that not only you visited that nest a few times. Reason for those visits of the nest site?

 

[Robert Gundy]

stonechat: I was a telemetry technician. I had a female Northern Bobwhite nest a few feet away from hers. I had to check it daily and when I noticed the sparrow nest, I checked it too.

If it makes a difference to anyone, this was a reclaimed coal mine, part of the Peabody WMA. The vegetation was dominated by Sericea lespedeza and other non-native and invasive plants. There were also agricultural fields planted with corn, sunflower and some soy on the property.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

Could be a Field Sparrow, but it's really hard to tell on a fledgling this young.

 

[Kratter]

The wing coverts and flight feathers of the fledgling are feathers that are held throughout the birds first year and are not molted when the birds goes into first-basic plumage. These feathers are perfect for RW Blackbird. The black primaries (still growing in) and black secondaries edge rust, are unlike any sparrow.
Andy

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

I was thrown off by the apparent unstreaked breast, which, even on a bird this young, I figured should be darker and streak by now for a Red-winged Blackbird. Looking at photos of fledglings and nestling sparrows, they show dark brown to black primaries at this age, that fade as they age, I'm guessing. I found some at least a few pictures labeled as Field Sparrow fledglings that show this feather pattern, with dark primaries and dark secondaries edged with rust.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4060/4695234554_77c78f6538_z.jpg

and

http://aminus3.s3.amazonaws.com/ima...74/5accdecf0afb28cdcef4d0a8101fd05f_large.jpg

and

http://aminus3.s3.amazonaws.com/ima...50/6478e4a80757c6510f21d2c7e733ed63_large.jpg

 

[Robert Gundy]

Wow, those photos are quite similar to this bird. I will have to look for some similarly aged Red-winged Blackbirds and compare.