Arvind Panjabi sent me two photos of Baird's Sparrows he had in hand this last winter. These provided excellent details of the bird's plumage as the photos were taken at close distance and enlarge to a full screen view. Though Arvind said he didn't have much experience with this species, he clearly had the high quality experience of viewing the birds in hand. Arvind pointed out several areas where the bird I photographed in Salida did not correspond to Baird's Sparrow characteristics : bill too long and pointy and not in same plane as forehead; post-ocular spot too long ; extensive dark centers and buffy tips too narrow on greater and median coverts looked more like a Savannah; and ochre on head not as extensive and obvious as it should be.
These points and the photos that support them indicate a species of sparrow other than Baird's. However, I also am having difficulty providing an alternative identity for it (which is how I got to my belief it was a Baird's). Certainly Savannah Sparrows are quite similar but the bird I photographed is lacking the yellow found on their ocular/eyebrow area as described by Beadle & Rising, by Sibley and by BNA (which I should have mentioned was written by Wheelright and Rising, the latter being the same one as in Beadle & Rising). Also I haven't resolved inconsistencies of the appearance of the eye-line on my bird with descriptions and photos of Savannahs. Additionally BNA says Savannah tails are "uniform-colored" but my photo appears to show dark tail feathers with buffyish edges. I hope that Arvind's experience may shed light on these or someone else who maybe has banded Savannahs. Grasshopper Sparrow has "buffy yellowish" lores and "supercilium in front of eye" (Beadle & Rising) while the bird in my photo lacks this yellowish coloration in these areas as noted above. They also have "rusty chestnut" centers on the nape and side of neck which is not apparent on the bird I photographed. LeConte's have that yellow ochre on head that is missing in the Salida sparrow (as well as other field marks). Vesper Sparrow was suggested but there is no indication of a white eye-line; though narrow, it contrasts so much it should be visible at least when I enlarge the photo. I am certainly open to further feedback. SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
