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They breed in shrublands, field edges, and thickets across the northern prairies. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I spotted this handsome sparrow on Monday as I was exploring at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It’s going to be mostly birds now that the weather has dropped down to the 50’s and we’ve had our first frost.
Though they’re not brightly colored, their pale tones and overall clean, crisp markings help set them apart from other sparrows—especially useful on their wintering grounds, where they often flock with other species. Sparrows are really tricky to identify because they have variability and the juveniles don’t look like the adults.
The broad, buffy eyebrow, pale area in front of the eye, pale mustache, and gray collar are good field marks.
The dark eyeline does not extend in front of the eye. No snow for us yet, though I suspect that you had some recently. Yes, we had some Friday and may get a bit more tomorrow. ( Log Out /
Note pale central crown stripe.
Note pale area in front of the eye and gray collar. Thanks, Steve. Copyright © 2000-2020, Dorr Farms, Inc. DBA Song Sparrow. Larger size he… The white skies in the background give this image an almost wintry feel, though it is way too early for me to be even thinking of snow. All rights reserved. I still have to work at distinguishing them. My visit was salvaged by the colors in this distant shot of a song sparrow. When I first started photographing birds, all sparrow looked the same to me—they were all nondescript little brown birds. These are mostly pale, tan-and-gray birds with a contrasting face pattern.
Small sparrow with a tan cheek patch and broad buffy eyebrow.
They spend winters in desert grasslands, upland plains, thorn scrub, fields, and brushy hillsides. You may link to the site but written content and photographs may not be used without my written permission. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. See more images of this species in Macaulay Library. Song is a simple series of 2–8 high buzzes, sounding very insectlike. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Note broad buffy eyebrow, pale mustache, and gray collar. ( Log Out / Clay-colored Sparrows are petite, trim sparrows with a small bill, slender body, and fairly long, notched tail. Order now until November 30, 2020.
In the West, their color is much duller, leaning toward gray in the Rockies and most of California, and brown along the coast. That does look like snow.
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Over time I have come to appreciate the subtle variations in color and markings that help to differentiate the species, although identification is still a bit of a hit-or-miss proposition for me. About the size of a Chipping Sparrow; slightly smaller than a Song Sparrow. Winters in desert grasslands, upland plains, thorn scrub, fields, and brushy hillsides. Switching from Édith Gassion to Édith Piaf had the same rationale as calling opera singer Jenny Lind the Swedish nightingale. Our offices will be closed November 26-27 in observance of Thanksgiving.
Large, dark sparrow with extensive geographic variation.
5.The male uses a fairly complex song to declare ownership of its territory and attract females. Four groups of subspecies: Red (only subspecies found in eastern U.S., but breeds to Alaska), Slate-colored (Rockies), Sooty (Pacific Northwest), Thick-billed (California). I would’ve thought it was a snowy background if you hadn’t said otherwise. Breeds in shrublands, field edges, and thickets across the northern prairies. But you did a good job identifying this song sparrow, and the photo is beautiful, Mike. They’re big, bold and a beautiful chestnut color (at least in the eastern U.S.) and, boy, can they sing! The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a widespread, relatively common sparrow. SALE * * * 40% OFF ALL HERBACEOUS PEONIES * * * NOVEMBER 12 TO NOVEMBER 25, 2020 Browse the Sale Plants. Discount deducted from your order at the time of checkout.
Petite, trim sparrow with a small bill, slender body, and fairly long, notched tail. Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Melospiza melodia, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, song sparrow, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 14 Comments. Thanks, Reed.
At the eastern edge of their range, look for them in Christmas tree farms and grassy areas with short, scattered conifers. Until I started photo in birds that come to our feeder I didn’t realize the difference between sparrows. Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com. Also sleek and sassy. Valid while supplies last.
Even a brief visit from a fox sparrow—and that’s all we get in most places—is an occasion. Our offices will be closed November 26-27 in observance of Thanksgiving.
The small, slender shape of these and other Spizella sparrows is distinctive.
The sparrow species derives its name from its colorful repertoire of songs. The Song Sparrow is another New World sparrow that breeds across much of North America. Last Sale of the Season! Clay-colored Sparrows typically forage low in shrubs, or on the ground within close reach of shrubby cover. Nice photo, Mike. Enthusiasts report that one of the songs heard often in suburban locations closely resembles the opening four notes of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No.