[nysbirds-l] 5/13- Queens Big Day (Little Gull, White-faced Ibis +++)
Today Corey Finger, Heydi Lopes, and I set out to do a Big Day in Queens. We were joined for a large portion of that time by Shane Blodgett. I'll try to be as brief as possible in the Highlights below. Our total of species in Queens for the day was 149. Highlights: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (stops in both the early morning, and late afternoon): WHITE-FACED IBIS (seen in the south marsh early, and then briefly after 7:00 PM in the first small cove when coming from the Visitor's Center before it flew off across the Pond into Brooklyn) SUMMER TANAGER (cooperative adult female seen at dusk at entrance to East Pond/Big John's Pond Trail. Video-recorded.) Virginia Rail- 2 Clapper Rail- 9 Barn Owl- 2 American Woodcock- 3 Blue-winged Teal- 1 Green-winged Teal- 2 Northern Shoveler- 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo- 1 Saltmarsh (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow- 1 Prairie Warbler- 1 All expected shorebird species Tricolored (1), Little Blue (3), Yellow-crowned Night (2) Herons Breezy Point: LITTLE GULL- 1 (1st cycle) GLAUCOUS GULL (Interesting small 1st cycle bird found yesterday, this may prove to be an Iceland, although I think not.)- 1 Gull-billed Tern- 3 Black Tern- 5 Roseate Tern- 2 Bonaparte's Gull- ~8 (including at least two alternate plumaged adults) White-winged Scoter- 6 Common Tern- 15,000+ **Interestingly there were no Black Skimmers here. Is it early for them to be nesting, or has the colony of Skimmers declined greatly? Riis Park (early morning): Movement of several thousand Common Terns flying East presumably from Breezy Point Black Tern- 2 Northern Gannet- 8 Common Loon- 3 Black Skimmer- 2 Forest Park: Orange-crowned Warbler- 1 Tennessee Warbler- 1 Worm-eating Warbler- 3 (Probable) Bicknell's Thrush- Near the Water Hole: Physical characteristics pointed towards Bicknell's, and it also called several times and sang once. Flushing Meadows Park: Cliff Swallow- 1 Kissena Park: Bobolink- 2 males I will post a few photos either later or some time tomorrow here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29840...@n08/ Good Birding -Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, NY. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Which Fox Sparrow ssp?
I wrote the following earlier today to Phil Jeffrey's but since it's merged into a discussion, here are my thoughts: 1) As a note, we're technically not talking about subspecies here. Fox sparrow has over 10 subspecies of which many are very similar. We're trying to group this bird into the more general category of 'race.' 2) It's definitely not megarhynca (thick-billed), I've spent years living with those birds and never seen one of that group this dark. Plus, there's the whole lack of a mega-sized rhyncus. 3) Iliaca is out (clearly) due to coloring 4) Leaving shistacea (slate-colored) and unalaschcensis (sooty). This all should be obvious to most birders. In response to Jacob Drucker, the coloration (gray-ish head and back, reddish wings and tail) would seem to denote slate-colored. However, in my travels throughout the interior west, I've never seen a slate-colored that overall dark. Schistacea birds that I've seen are all daintily streaked on the breast. This CP bird is very darkly and broadly streaked underneath with a very dark face and perhaps most importantly, dark lores. While schistacea birds are more dominantly gray-backed than unalaschcensis, the colors observed in the CP bird are fully within the range (as I'm familiar with it) of unalaschcensis. Moreover, the unalaschcensis (sooty) group is highly variable and in my experience tends toward the most melanistic forms, with dark lores and big, broad, streaky breasts and flanks. Check out photos of melaninistic sooty fox sparrows here: http://1birds.com/sooty-fox-sparrows-vancouver.htm/ http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/70117295 The 'oddest' thing about the CP bird to me is the bill color. Why isn't the lower mandible yellow? It could be an age thing (1st-year birds maybe don't have the yellow coloring?), and we know that bill color among all birds can be variable and isn't the best field mark. Still, it bothers me a little. So, I'd throw my vote into sooty (unalaschcensis), and if anyone was taking bets never to be collected, I'd put my money in the subspecies *fuliginosa. *Morgan Tingley UC Berkeley / AMNH New York, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [nysbirds-l] Which Fox Sparrow ssp?
Is there any final concensus on which ssp this bird is? It seems like several say sooty and others are saying slate-colored. When Lila Fried I saw the bird at around 4:30 this afternoon we couldn't help but notice that it didn't fit well with any of the illustrations in Sibley's books. Though it's definitely uniform brown like a pacific race the rufous tertials, secondaries and and tail, as well as the streaking and patterns of grey in the face fit extremely well with the illustration for the interior west ssp from the illustrated 1996 version of the Beadle/Rising sparrow book. Though this book is relatively outdated, and the plates not 100% accurate, sibley mentions in an inset that the interior west population in the rockies can look like an integrade of "Red" and "Slate-colored." This is what this bird looked like to me. However, the back was awfully uniform, a trait sibley acquaints with sooty.. More thoughts? Also, the most recent AOU publication of Ornithological Monographs focuses on subspecies, so I found it to be quite appropriate reading today! Jacob Drucker NYC From: david_spei...@hotmail.com To: nysbirds-l@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] Sooty Fox Sparrow Central Park with 2 more pictures Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 20:55:25 -0400 To add to Phil's post here are links to two more shots of the bird. One with flash one without. I also agree that the bird appears to be an interior western race of "Sooty Fox Sparrow" http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_1.jpg.html http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_2.jpg.html Good birding, David Speiser www.lilibirds.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sooty Fox Sparrow
Thanks to everyone sharing information and photos on this bird! My impression from the photos is that this is likely a coastal Sooty Fox Sparrow (unalaschcensis subspecies group) rather than a Slate-colored (schistacea group), mostly because the ventral streaks look so thick, blurry, and concolorous with the dorsal plumage--and are also very extensive. My impression of Slate-colored is that the ventral streaking is less extensive and tends to consist of neater, blacker markings in better contrast with the (grayer) dorsal plumage. Please keep the reports coming if it hangs in tomorrow! Shai Mitra Bay Shore Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sooty Fox Sparrow Central Park with 2 more pictures
To add to Phil's post here are links to two more shots of the bird. One with flash one without. I also agree that the bird appears to be an interior western race of "Sooty Fox Sparrow" http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_1.jpg.html http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_2.jpg.html Good birding, David Speiser www.lilibirds.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] 5-13 birds
on 5-13 i saw a white faced ibis at jamaica bay at 930am. by bench 2. a yellow billed cuckoo at hempstead lake state park at 11am and a blue grosbeak at robert moses feild 2 at 2.30 gary straus -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] WNY Dial-a-Bird 13 May 2010
- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 05/13/2010 * NYBU1005.13 - Birds mentioned - Submit email to dfsuggs localnet com Thank you, David - WILSON'S PHALAROPE SNOWY EGRET PURPLE SANDPIPER WARBLERS (24+ species) American Bittern Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin American Woodcock Iceland Gull L. Black-b. Gull Black-billed Cuckoo Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ruby-t. Hummingbird Red-headed Wdpkr. Olive-s. Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Gr. Cr. Flycatcher Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher American Pipit Yellow-thr. Vireo Blue-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-cr. Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-s. Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Bl.-thr. Bl. Warbler Yellow-r. Warbler Bl.-thr. Green Warb. Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Bl. and w. Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Yellow-br. Chat Scarlet Tanager Rose-br. Grosbeak Eastern Towhee Lincoln's Sparrow White-thr. Sparrow White-cr. Sparrow Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole - Transcript Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 05/13/2010 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report:Same Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs at localnet com) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Website: www.BOSBirding.org Thursday, May 13, 2010 Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200. Highlights of reports received May 6 through May 13 from the Niagara Frontier Region include WILSON'S PHALAROPE, SNOWY EGRETS, PURPLE SANDPIPER and WARBLERS. May 8 and 9 in Niagara County, a female WILSON'S PHALAROPE among 11 shorebird species at Johnson Creek Road and Hartland-Somerset Townline. Also in this large, flooded field - SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, KILLDEER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, AMERICAN WOODCOCK and 25 AMERICAN PIPITS. From Niagara County again, a SNOWY EGRET May 7 through at least May 10, on 12 Mile Creek at the Route 18 bridge in the Town of Wilson. Another SNOWY EGRET this week on the east branch of the Niagara River, seen several days at Beaver Island State Park, across the river on the Tonawanda shore, and possibly the same SNOWY EGRET flying over West Oakfield Road on Grand Island. May 7, PURPLE SANDPIPER still off Goat Island in Niagara Falls, New York, and May 8, L. BLACK-B. GULL at Woodlawn Beach State Park in Hamburg, and 3 ICELAND GULLS on Lake Ontario off Porter and Olcott. The weekend windstorm sadly took down two long established BALD EAGLE nests - at Cayuga Pool in the Iroquois Refuge, and in the Genesee County Town of Alexander at Route 20 and Tonawanda Creek. One eaglet at Cayuga Pool was said to have been rescued and may be rehabilitated. The adult BALD EAGLES were still roosting at the pool, inspite of the lost nest tree. As the region reaches peak migration, at least 24 warbler species this week. Highlighted by a YELLOW-BR. CHAT, May 8, on the trails at Wilson-Tuscaurora State Park. Also an ORANGE-CR. WARBLER at Four Mile Creek State Park in Porter, and across the region, first reports of TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER and CANADA WARBLER. May 12 in the Chautauqua County Town of Sheridan, along the old railroad bed off Center Road, 18 warbler species plus BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 4 WOOD THRUSHES, 15 GRAY CATBIRDS, 2 BROWN THRASHERS, 9 EASTERN TOWHEES and 12 ROSE-BR. GROSBEAKS. RUBY-T. HUMMINGBIRDS appear to have arrived late this season; first reports May 10 and 12 at feeders in Lockport and Shelby. Other reports this week - two male ORCHARD ORIOLES in an apple tree in a Wilson yard. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Emery Park in the Town of Wales. At Amherst State Park, a surprising VIRGINIA RAIL in the small marsh in the open field, plus PEREGRINE FALCON, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, OLIVE-S. FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER and GR. CR. FLYCATCHER. At Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo, AMERICAN BITTERN, VIRGINIA RAIL, YELLOW-THR. VIREO and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. RED-HEADED WDPKRS. at Hall Road in the Town of Yates, and at the mouth of Silver Creek in Chautauqua County. And, widespread reports of SCARLET TANAGER, WHITE-THR. SPARROW, WHITE-CR. SPARROW and BALTIMORE
[nysbirds-l] 5/13: Blue Grosbeak and Tennessee Warbler in Riverside Park (Manhattan)
Hi, Jeff Nulle called to report a female Blue Grosbeak at the "drip" in Riverside around 3:30pm. He also had a Tennessee Warbler in the trees near the southwest fence of the tennis courts (just north of the drip) around 9am. He said that birding was pretty lackluster there otherwise, but hopefully the grosbeak will stick around. Karen Fung NYC -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Fox Sparrow photos from Strawberry Fields/CPK
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064831/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604677564/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064801/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064731/ Click on the "all sizes" icon to see the original size that I uploaded (900x600). A word on color: this bird looked more uniform and perhaps darker in the undergrowth than it does here. I warmed the images a little to compensate for the color cast induced by shooting in shadows but the bird is in mixed lighting which produces the usual complications for color considerations. This bird was NOT shot with flash since I don't think it's smart to do that with rarities (and it produces its own color issues e.g. with Catharus thrushes). A quick scan of the Rising sparrow book (the photo one) makes me think that this is not the Sooty/Pacific race but one of the interior west races, based partly on the coloration of the bill but also on the lack of uniformity of plumage coloration. The Hermit-like more rufous tail was evident in the field, although perhaps not quite as blatant, but the contrast between the back and the wings was more limited. Sadly I now have to work and unable to do more research until later. Phil Jeffrey -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Another BLUE GROSBEAK - Hoyt Farm Park (Commack, Suffolk Co.)
Just before noon today I found a female BLUE GROSBEAK feeding in a small clearing on the west side of Hoyt Farm Park, just southeast of the water tower (40.822712, -73.272954). I observed it feeding for several minutes before eventually losing track of it. Also seen in the immediate vicinity were male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and Common Yellowthroat. Some other notable birds seen or heard elsewhere in the park included Solitary Sandpiper, Warbling and Red-eyed vireos, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, five other species of warbler (Blue-winged, N. Parula, Yellow, Black-throated Blue, and Blackpoll), Scarlet Tanager (pair), and Baltimore Oriole. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] western Fox Sparrow, Central Park NYC 5/13
Western race fox sparrow relocated by Audrey Weintraub. The bird is on the
southeast lawn near the west drive closest to the Webster statue.
Good and responsible birding!
Andrew Baksh
Queens NY
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com
(\__/)
(= '.'=) sent from somewhere in the field via my mobile device.
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] posters from Cornell
Here is Cornell's website to download various bird posters that can then be printed. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/FreeDownloads.htm Marty from Woodbury -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] western Fox Sparrow, Central Park NYC 5/13
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Thursday, 13 May, 2010 western Fox Sparrow - the Fox Sparrow group may at some point be "split" into separate species by the A.O.U. - there are many birders and some scientists who already see this as a group made up of several species. Just to add a little more emphasis, I would certainly suggest that anyone interested in a bird that is extremely rare in our region (and also rarely documented) make the pilgrimage to Strawberry Fields in Central Park, the closest park entrance is at West 72 Street & Central Park West, then take a small wood-chipped path to the left (north) into the area where seen, about 30 yards after entering the park and at first, going straight in (east). If you see other birders, obviously ask them as well... Good luck, be patient. Photos & descriptions both will be much appreciated, & thanks for all reports! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [nysbirds-l] Blue Grosbeak at RMSP Field 2 (Suffolk Co.)
Still there at 6:30 AM this morning. It was favoring the second small circle from the north, on the right as you drive in. From: bounce-5790858-3714...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-5790858-3714...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of ken feustel Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 3:43 PM To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] Blue Grosbeak at RMSP Field 2 (Suffolk Co.) At 1:30PM this afternoon there was an immature male Blue Grosbeak in front (north) of the Robert Moses State Park Field 2 concession. The bird was easily disturbed and moved around the parking area quite a bit, but was last seen along the north border of the parking lot west of the main entrance to Field 2. Ken Feustel This e-mail message and any attachments are intended only for the named recipient(s) above. It may contain confidential information due to its nature as trade secret, security sensitive, pursuant to contract or other regards. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or copying of this e-mail and/or any attachment(s) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by replying to this e-mail and delete the message and any attachment(s) from your system. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free, as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. GPI accepts no liability for any damage caused by errors, omissions or delays arising from the transmission process or any virus contained in this email. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of GPI and/or any of its affiliates. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park
It was still there as of 8:20am and appears to be of a far western ssp - a chocolate brown and gray, getting a little warmer in the primaries and tail. I have pics. For those looking for it - it's an active feeder but it's quite shy. --- Phil Jeffrey On May 13, 2010, at 7:50 AM, Shaibal Mitra wrote: Dear Karen and all, This report is extremely exciting and of great interest to many people. I would be most appreciative of any follow-up reports concerning whether the bird continues to be seen. Please document this bird as carefully as possible. Paul Buckley recorded a Fox Sparrow of the subspecies altivagans at Fire Island Lighthouse on almost this date (12 May 71--note that these dates are a month later than Red Fox Sparrows are expected in southeastern NY). Collected as a specimen, that record has been much studied and debated over the years. This one deserves to be described in detail and photographed if possible. Shai Mitra Bay Shore From: bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Fung [easternblueb...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 7:07 AM To: ebirds...@yahoogroups.com; nysbirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park Hi All, Stephanie Seymour and Rob Fanning just called to report a Fox Sparrow (Western Subspecies, a much grayer form) in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. The sparrow was found on the wood chip path by Steve Chang and Andrew Rubenfeld about 15 min ago (~6:45am). Good luck if you go. Karen Fung Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park
Dear Karen and all, This report is extremely exciting and of great interest to many people. I would be most appreciative of any follow-up reports concerning whether the bird continues to be seen. Please document this bird as carefully as possible. Paul Buckley recorded a Fox Sparrow of the subspecies altivagans at Fire Island Lighthouse on almost this date (12 May 71--note that these dates are a month later than Red Fox Sparrows are expected in southeastern NY). Collected as a specimen, that record has been much studied and debated over the years. This one deserves to be described in detail and photographed if possible. Shai Mitra Bay Shore From: bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Fung [easternblueb...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 7:07 AM To: ebirds...@yahoogroups.com; nysbirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park Hi All, Stephanie Seymour and Rob Fanning just called to report a Fox Sparrow (Western Subspecies, a much grayer form) in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. The sparrow was found on the wood chip path by Steve Chang and Andrew Rubenfeld about 15 min ago (~6:45am). Good luck if you go. Karen Fung Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] White-faced Ibis
At 6:55 this morning Doug Gochfeld called to say the WHITE-FACED IBIS was in the South Marsh of Jamaica Bay WR directly under the Osprey platform. Shane B. Brooklyn NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park
Hi All, Stephanie Seymour and Rob Fanning just called to report a Fox Sparrow (Western Subspecies, a much grayer form) in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. The sparrow was found on the wood chip path by Steve Chang and Andrew Rubenfeld about 15 min ago (~6:45am). Good luck if you go. Karen Fung -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-shouldered Hawk , Patchogue,LI
A Red-shouldered Hawk was just seen perched in a tree in my backyard. I looked out the bay window while the computer was starting up and there the hawk was, ever so beautiful and elegant if I must say so. After a few minutes in flew off towards the open field. Diana Teta Long Island, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-shouldered Hawk , Patchogue,LI
A Red-shouldered Hawk was just seen perched in a tree in my backyard. I looked out the bay window while the computer was starting up and there the hawk was, ever so beautiful and elegant if I must say so. After a few minutes in flew off towards the open field. Diana Teta Long Island, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park
Hi All, Stephanie Seymour and Rob Fanning just called to report a Fox Sparrow (Western Subspecies, a much grayer form) in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. The sparrow was found on the wood chip path by Steve Chang and Andrew Rubenfeld about 15 min ago (~6:45am). Good luck if you go. Karen Fung -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] White-faced Ibis
At 6:55 this morning Doug Gochfeld called to say the WHITE-FACED IBIS was in the South Marsh of Jamaica Bay WR directly under the Osprey platform. Shane B. Brooklyn NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park
Dear Karen and all, This report is extremely exciting and of great interest to many people. I would be most appreciative of any follow-up reports concerning whether the bird continues to be seen. Please document this bird as carefully as possible. Paul Buckley recorded a Fox Sparrow of the subspecies altivagans at Fire Island Lighthouse on almost this date (12 May 71--note that these dates are a month later than Red Fox Sparrows are expected in southeastern NY). Collected as a specimen, that record has been much studied and debated over the years. This one deserves to be described in detail and photographed if possible. Shai Mitra Bay Shore From: bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-5795959-11143...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Fung [easternblueb...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 7:07 AM To: ebirds...@yahoogroups.com; nysbirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] May 13th Western Race Fox Sparrow in Central Park Hi All, Stephanie Seymour and Rob Fanning just called to report a Fox Sparrow (Western Subspecies, a much grayer form) in Strawberry Fields in Central Park. The sparrow was found on the wood chip path by Steve Chang and Andrew Rubenfeld about 15 min ago (~6:45am). Good luck if you go. Karen Fung Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [nysbirds-l] Blue Grosbeak at RMSP Field 2 (Suffolk Co.)
Still there at 6:30 AM this morning. It was favoring the second small circle from the north, on the right as you drive in. From: bounce-5790858-3714...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-5790858-3714...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of ken feustel Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 3:43 PM To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] Blue Grosbeak at RMSP Field 2 (Suffolk Co.) At 1:30PM this afternoon there was an immature male Blue Grosbeak in front (north) of the Robert Moses State Park Field 2 concession. The bird was easily disturbed and moved around the parking area quite a bit, but was last seen along the north border of the parking lot west of the main entrance to Field 2. Ken Feustel This e-mail message and any attachments are intended only for the named recipient(s) above. It may contain confidential information due to its nature as trade secret, security sensitive, pursuant to contract or other regards. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or copying of this e-mail and/or any attachment(s) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by replying to this e-mail and delete the message and any attachment(s) from your system. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free, as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. GPI accepts no liability for any damage caused by errors, omissions or delays arising from the transmission process or any virus contained in this email. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of GPI and/or any of its affiliates. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] western Fox Sparrow, Central Park NYC 5/13
Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City Thursday, 13 May, 2010 western Fox Sparrow - the Fox Sparrow group may at some point be split into separate species by the A.O.U. - there are many birders and some scientists who already see this as a group made up of several species. Just to add a little more emphasis, I would certainly suggest that anyone interested in a bird that is extremely rare in our region (and also rarely documented) make the pilgrimage to Strawberry Fields in Central Park, the closest park entrance is at West 72 Street Central Park West, then take a small wood-chipped path to the left (north) into the area where seen, about 30 yards after entering the park and at first, going straight in (east). If you see other birders, obviously ask them as well... Good luck, be patient. Photos descriptions both will be much appreciated, thanks for all reports! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] posters from Cornell
Here is Cornell's website to download various bird posters that can then be printed. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/FreeDownloads.htm Marty from Woodbury -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] western Fox Sparrow, Central Park NYC 5/13
Western race fox sparrow relocated by Audrey Weintraub. The bird is on the southeast lawn near the west drive closest to the Webster statue. Good and responsible birding! Andrew Baksh Queens NY www.birdingdude.blogspot.com (\__/) (= '.'=) sent from somewhere in the field via my mobile device. () _ () -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] 5/13: Blue Grosbeak and Tennessee Warbler in Riverside Park (Manhattan)
Hi, Jeff Nulle called to report a female Blue Grosbeak at the drip in Riverside around 3:30pm. He also had a Tennessee Warbler in the trees near the southwest fence of the tennis courts (just north of the drip) around 9am. He said that birding was pretty lackluster there otherwise, but hopefully the grosbeak will stick around. Karen Fung NYC -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] WNY Dial-a-Bird 13 May 2010
- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 05/13/2010 * NYBU1005.13 - Birds mentioned - Submit email to dfsuggs localnet com Thank you, David - WILSON'S PHALAROPE SNOWY EGRET PURPLE SANDPIPER WARBLERS (24+ species) American Bittern Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Virginia Rail Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin American Woodcock Iceland Gull L. Black-b. Gull Black-billed Cuckoo Yellow-billed Cuckoo Ruby-t. Hummingbird Red-headed Wdpkr. Olive-s. Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Gr. Cr. Flycatcher Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher American Pipit Yellow-thr. Vireo Blue-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-cr. Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-s. Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Bl.-thr. Bl. Warbler Yellow-r. Warbler Bl.-thr. Green Warb. Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Bl. and w. Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Yellow-br. Chat Scarlet Tanager Rose-br. Grosbeak Eastern Towhee Lincoln's Sparrow White-thr. Sparrow White-cr. Sparrow Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole - Transcript Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 05/13/2010 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report:Same Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs at localnet com) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Website: www.BOSBirding.org Thursday, May 13, 2010 Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200. Highlights of reports received May 6 through May 13 from the Niagara Frontier Region include WILSON'S PHALAROPE, SNOWY EGRETS, PURPLE SANDPIPER and WARBLERS. May 8 and 9 in Niagara County, a female WILSON'S PHALAROPE among 11 shorebird species at Johnson Creek Road and Hartland-Somerset Townline. Also in this large, flooded field - SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, KILLDEER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, AMERICAN WOODCOCK and 25 AMERICAN PIPITS. From Niagara County again, a SNOWY EGRET May 7 through at least May 10, on 12 Mile Creek at the Route 18 bridge in the Town of Wilson. Another SNOWY EGRET this week on the east branch of the Niagara River, seen several days at Beaver Island State Park, across the river on the Tonawanda shore, and possibly the same SNOWY EGRET flying over West Oakfield Road on Grand Island. May 7, PURPLE SANDPIPER still off Goat Island in Niagara Falls, New York, and May 8, L. BLACK-B. GULL at Woodlawn Beach State Park in Hamburg, and 3 ICELAND GULLS on Lake Ontario off Porter and Olcott. The weekend windstorm sadly took down two long established BALD EAGLE nests - at Cayuga Pool in the Iroquois Refuge, and in the Genesee County Town of Alexander at Route 20 and Tonawanda Creek. One eaglet at Cayuga Pool was said to have been rescued and may be rehabilitated. The adult BALD EAGLES were still roosting at the pool, inspite of the lost nest tree. As the region reaches peak migration, at least 24 warbler species this week. Highlighted by a YELLOW-BR. CHAT, May 8, on the trails at Wilson-Tuscaurora State Park. Also an ORANGE-CR. WARBLER at Four Mile Creek State Park in Porter, and across the region, first reports of TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER and CANADA WARBLER. May 12 in the Chautauqua County Town of Sheridan, along the old railroad bed off Center Road, 18 warbler species plus BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 4 WOOD THRUSHES, 15 GRAY CATBIRDS, 2 BROWN THRASHERS, 9 EASTERN TOWHEES and 12 ROSE-BR. GROSBEAKS. RUBY-T. HUMMINGBIRDS appear to have arrived late this season; first reports May 10 and 12 at feeders in Lockport and Shelby. Other reports this week - two male ORCHARD ORIOLES in an apple tree in a Wilson yard. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at Emery Park in the Town of Wales. At Amherst State Park, a surprising VIRGINIA RAIL in the small marsh in the open field, plus PEREGRINE FALCON, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, OLIVE-S. FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER and GR. CR. FLYCATCHER. At Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo, AMERICAN BITTERN, VIRGINIA RAIL, YELLOW-THR. VIREO and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. RED-HEADED WDPKRS. at Hall Road in the Town of Yates, and at the mouth of Silver Creek in Chautauqua County. And, widespread reports of SCARLET TANAGER, WHITE-THR. SPARROW, WHITE-CR. SPARROW and BALTIMORE
[nysbirds-l] 5-13 birds
on 5-13 i saw a white faced ibis at jamaica bay at 930am. by bench 2. a yellow billed cuckoo at hempstead lake state park at 11am and a blue grosbeak at robert moses feild 2 at 2.30 gary straus -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sooty Fox Sparrow Central Park with 2 more pictures
To add to Phil's post here are links to two more shots of the bird. One with flash one without. I also agree that the bird appears to be an interior western race of Sooty Fox Sparrow http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_1.jpg.html http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_2.jpg.html Good birding, David Speiser www.lilibirds.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [nysbirds-l] Which Fox Sparrow ssp?
Is there any final concensus on which ssp this bird is? It seems like several say sooty and others are saying slate-colored. When Lila Fried I saw the bird at around 4:30 this afternoon we couldn't help but notice that it didn't fit well with any of the illustrations in Sibley's books. Though it's definitely uniform brown like a pacific race the rufous tertials, secondaries and and tail, as well as the streaking and patterns of grey in the face fit extremely well with the illustration for the interior west ssp from the illustrated 1996 version of the Beadle/Rising sparrow book. Though this book is relatively outdated, and the plates not 100% accurate, sibley mentions in an inset that the interior west population in the rockies can look like an integrade of Red and Slate-colored. This is what this bird looked like to me. However, the back was awfully uniform, a trait sibley acquaints with sooty.. More thoughts? Also, the most recent AOU publication of Ornithological Monographs focuses on subspecies, so I found it to be quite appropriate reading today! Jacob Drucker NYC From: david_spei...@hotmail.com To: nysbirds-l@cornell.edu Subject: [nysbirds-l] Sooty Fox Sparrow Central Park with 2 more pictures Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 20:55:25 -0400 To add to Phil's post here are links to two more shots of the bird. One with flash one without. I also agree that the bird appears to be an interior western race of Sooty Fox Sparrow http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_1.jpg.html http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/recent_work/sooty_fox_sparrow_2.jpg.html Good birding, David Speiser www.lilibirds.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Which Fox Sparrow ssp?
I wrote the following earlier today to Phil Jeffrey's but since it's merged into a discussion, here are my thoughts: 1) As a note, we're technically not talking about subspecies here. Fox sparrow has over 10 subspecies of which many are very similar. We're trying to group this bird into the more general category of 'race.' 2) It's definitely not megarhynca (thick-billed), I've spent years living with those birds and never seen one of that group this dark. Plus, there's the whole lack of a mega-sized rhyncus. 3) Iliaca is out (clearly) due to coloring 4) Leaving shistacea (slate-colored) and unalaschcensis (sooty). This all should be obvious to most birders. In response to Jacob Drucker, the coloration (gray-ish head and back, reddish wings and tail) would seem to denote slate-colored. However, in my travels throughout the interior west, I've never seen a slate-colored that overall dark. Schistacea birds that I've seen are all daintily streaked on the breast. This CP bird is very darkly and broadly streaked underneath with a very dark face and perhaps most importantly, dark lores. While schistacea birds are more dominantly gray-backed than unalaschcensis, the colors observed in the CP bird are fully within the range (as I'm familiar with it) of unalaschcensis. Moreover, the unalaschcensis (sooty) group is highly variable and in my experience tends toward the most melanistic forms, with dark lores and big, broad, streaky breasts and flanks. Check out photos of melaninistic sooty fox sparrows here: http://1birds.com/sooty-fox-sparrows-vancouver.htm/ http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/image/70117295 The 'oddest' thing about the CP bird to me is the bill color. Why isn't the lower mandible yellow? It could be an age thing (1st-year birds maybe don't have the yellow coloring?), and we know that bill color among all birds can be variable and isn't the best field mark. Still, it bothers me a little. So, I'd throw my vote into sooty (unalaschcensis), and if anyone was taking bets never to be collected, I'd put my money in the subspecies *fuliginosa. *Morgan Tingley UC Berkeley / AMNH New York, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
