Sparrow in North Central Texas? (1 Viewer)

[Scrogdog]

I saw several of these sparrows yesterday as I drove along the open Grand Prairie to the east of the West Cross Timbers where I live. I've decided I'm just not very good at accurately IDing most sparrows, so thought I'd see what anyone else thinks.

 

[oldsquaw]

looks kind of like a vesper sparrow to me

 

[Scrogdog]

That's the problem I seem to have. A lot of sparrows I see kinda look like three or four different species and I just haven't been able to detect the subtle differences. The Vesper, Savannah,Song and a couple of other sparrows all look about the same to me. About the only ones I feel confident about when I see them are the House, Chipping, White Crowned and Harris.

Gary

 

[Tero]

This should be fun, thanks for the example, experts will be here. I vote not Vesper.

The Vesper, Savannah,Song and a couple of other sparrows all look about the same to me.

But, anyway, work on the song sparrow in your area first, ther is some variation. Then go from there to the others. I have only two Vespers in 4 years, so even in the field I need help with that.

 

[Parula6]

I'd vote for Vesper Sparrow, although I'm no sparrow expert by any means. The combination of thin eye ring, streaky back, notched tail, pattern of chest/side streaking and relation of primary projection to tertials makes me think Vesper. A Savannah -- another possibility -- seems like it would show more yellow in the eye stripe along with a lot more underside streaking. In my experience Savannahs are more "contrasty", too, although there's a terrific amount of variation in the races of that species, heaven knows, and I'm not sure which race would winter in your area.

It doesn't look like any kind of Song Sparrow to me, though. I've never seen any flavor of Song Sparrow with a tail that short. But there are tons of races of that species, too, so maybe. But I still don't think so. Songs seek brushy settings rather than more open aspects, so the environment these birds are occupying could be a helpful clue.

 

[Jeff Bouton]

Hey gang,

I can't see enough of the head to say much about the first image but wouldn't be surprised if these are all the same species. On the last two shots though, I see the weak eyering folks are talking about, but suggest this might also be too weak an eyering for a Vesper. Additionally, to me I think I'm seeing hints of yellow in the lores (area above and in front of the eye). Finally, these birds seem to show a uniformly light "eyebrow" (light line above the eye) that extends well behind the eye. Vespers typically only show a light spot in the lores only with the rest of the area above & behind the eye dark. I believe these are all Savannah Sparrows actually, and am almost 100% on the last two given what details can be made out on these images.

Best,

Jeff

 

[JANJ]

Try Savannah for nr 2+3. Yellowish fore supercilium, overall pattern and short-tailed. Nr 1 could also be Savannah despite the strange head pattern - which perhaps is a trick of the image so to speak.

JanJ

 

[Peter C.]

Agree with Savannah (long white supercillium, flat head) for photos 2 & 3. Not sure about #1, but I think it isn't Savannah - the face pattern would show up better if it were. I don't think there's enough there to be definitive, but I could be Vesper (or several others, given the geographic location).

Cheers,
Peter C.

 

[birderbf]

You have "easy" Savannahs for #s 2 and 3, and the first is also a Savannah. Vesper's eyering would be more prominent that it is on this bird, and there would be no yellow supraloral spot.

 

[Scrogdog]

Here's a photo taken of another bird in the same group of birds that more clearly shows the eye ring and facial features. I thought it was one of the three I posted originally. I assumed all of these birds were of the same species since they were together in the same group.

Gary

 

[Tero]

Savannahs in the first set.

Eye ring and pinkish bill on new photo. Hmm. Have to get my sparrow book out but I have to go to dinner now. Good luck.

 

[Larry Lade]

To me, your last photo looks really good for a Vesper Sparrow. Definite white eye-ring and I believe I can see that (not always visible) rusty shoulder patch!

Some "birds of a feather" do flock together. But, there is almost always a chance that there may one or even several different species in the flock.

 

[Tero]

Over dinner, I had a book, I came to the same conclusion.

 

[birderbf]

New conclusions are correct!

 

[AmpelisChinito]

I was Vesper all the way.

 

[DDolan1075]

Savannahs are really here in big numbers right now, if that means anything...

 

[The Falcon]

The second and third photos look like Savannah Sparrows to me. I agree, on the 4th photo being a Vesper.