US - Illinois - Backyard Bird (1 Viewer)

[ilbirdwatch1]

I'm thinking this is a Field Sparrow minus the tail. Any help would be great! I've looked through a couple identification books and websites and that's the closest I could find as match. It's much smaller than all the other sparrows and it's not afraid of the larger birds.

Picture was taken about 30 minutes ago - Backyard - After a heavy snow.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[fugl]

Yes, Field Sparrow

 

[spacepilot]

Agree, Field Sparrow. Lovely shot!

 

[AlexC]

Poor guy lost his tail! Agree on Field.

 

[ilbirdwatch1]

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[Angnix]

Field Sparrow

I've never seen a tailless bird before, though I have seen a Winter Wren and Acadian Flycatcher both missing one leg.

 

[spacepilot]

Field Sparrow

I've never seen a tailless bird before, though I have seen a Winter Wren and Acadian Flycatcher both missing one leg.

How well did they manage with one leg?

I've seen several birds without tail feathers in the winter. One theory is that the tail feathers got frozen onto something when the bird roosts at night and got torn off when the bird tries to go out in the morning.

 

[Angnix]

The one-legged Winter Wren was resident at a raptor center and would follow people around and would be sighted in the raptor cages, maybe lasted two weeks....

The one-legged Acadian Flycatcher female raised fledgelings!!! I was doing a research project, she was fully banded one year, then came back the next less one leg and two bands on that leg...

I'm going off topic though... can be deleted if inappropriate

 

[Scrogdog]

Agree with Field Sparrow. I had one at my feeders this week while ice and snow was on the ground. That seems to be the only time they come around.