Hi bird detectives, I had two what-I-thought-were-purple-finches this morning, just by passively listening to their background soundtrack, though then I noticed they were consistently doing a pretty short version of a song for a PUFI, and it was a little bit sharper/tinnier sounding (not as syrupy sweet toned as what I think of as PUFI song), and more tightly organized-- almost no variation. They flew over together, briefly pausing on a branch directly above my head. I got binocs on one for about a second and all I got was clearly streaked flanks on a light belly. No magenta whatsoever. Didn't get a view of the bill.
So. Are Fox Sparrow or Lincoln's Sparrow possibilities? I don't know anything about their migration timing. The habitat here is heartily mixed, lots of scrub and lots of open space and also mature woods. Any input, however speculative, would be fun. Thanks, Caroline West Hill, Ithaca -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
