Roger Everhart's comments about this bird made me give it a closer look. I don't think it's an American Tree Sparrow at all. The suggestion of a breast spot is there, but this seems to be the way the feathers are fluffed, and not a true breast spot. The bill is clearly NOT bicolored, and the maxilla (upper half of the bill) is the same yellowish color as the mandible (lower half of the bill). This alone rules out American Tree Sparrow. The overall jizz of proportions, etc. doesn't look right for American Tree either. The lores are obviously dark, and I would say the bird was correctly ID'd as a Chipping Sparrow. A Clay-colored or Brewer's (quite a stretch for us at anytime, but worth considering) would have pale lores.
Drew Smith Eagan, Dakota County -----Original Message----- From: MN Birder <[email protected]> To: MOU-NET <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, Nov 13, 2010 9:54 am Subject: [mou-net] Late Chipping Sparrow in Bloomington (Hennepin Co.) The snowstorm has brought plenty of goldfinches, chickadees, woodpeckers and house finches back to our yard, but we have had a surprise this afternoon when we saw a sparrow that looks like a Chipping Sparrow. This is by far the latest that we have ever seen a Chipping Sparrow here. I have some pictures if others would like to look and give their opinion on whether it is Chipping Sparrow or not. The quality isn't the greatest because the dark lighting and the snow combined to make it difficult to take clear pictures. Sparrow Back #1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54582...@n02/5172871768/ Sparrow Back #2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54582...@n02/5172267151/ Sparrow Front #1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54582...@n02/5172266961/ Sparrow Front #2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54582...@n02/5172266613/ Sparrow Front #3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54582...@n02/5172870746/ Thanks in advance for any help. Ben Harste ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
