5/2/2023 0 Comments Fox sparrow![]() This is one you want to really get a good grasp on as it serves as the base for identifying the other three streaked sparrows.ĭark wedge near throat, messy streaking Lincoln's Sparrow ![]() ID Keys: Somewhat messy streaking dark wedges in throat default streaked sparrow. Note that there is a large variation in plumage across their range, but these characteristics are typical of birds in the northeast. The general characteristics of this species are somewhat messy streaking usually coalescing into a central spot and bold dark wedges in the throat area. So, really, when you see a streaked sparrow, you should ask yourself "Is there any reason this isn't a Song Sparrow?" This is the default streaked sparrow, and typically outnumbers the other species in this section quite significantly. During winter, the streaked sparrows are relatively easy, since one of the species is far more common than the rest. This will quickly narrow your options, and allows you to move on to other details. Typically, the first thing you want to look at when trying to identify a sparrow is whether the front is streaked or not. ID Keys: Rufous sides white belly black or brown neck, head, and back larger size than other sparrows. Especially during late snowfalls, they may show up at backyard feeders (preferring seeds on the ground), and are sometimes confused with orioles, but note the white front, different bill shape and ground-feeding habits. The tricolored black (replaced by brown in females), rufous, and white plumage is unlike any of the other sparrows except the extremely similar western species Spotted Towhee, which is nearly identical except for its namesake white spotting on the upperside - the two used to be considered a single species called "Rufous-sided Towhee" but have since been split into two species. They tend to spend their time in brushy habitats, and aren't always easily seen, but listen for their loud alert whistle to give away their presence. ![]() Upperside can range from solid gray to very brown Eastern TowheeĪlthough quite common during the warmer months, they are pretty scarce in most areas of Pennsylvania and northward during winter. ID Keys: Dark gray and possibly some brown everywhere above a white belly white outer tail feathers pink bill. Immatures and females can have various amounts of brown in the sides and on the back, but share the same basic color pattern. There aren't really any species that have a similar color pattern, other than Black Phoebe, which isn't really a species you have to consider in the east (and note bill color and behavior as other means of separating those two). The "cleanest" examples of that form (e.g., adult males) are completely dark gray from above, with a white belly and white outer tail feathers that flash when they fly. This species has a wide range of plumages among all of the subspecies, but in the east, nearly all of them are the slate-colored form. One of the most familiar winter species, often flocking and visiting feeders, and rarely doing much to hide their presence. They don't even have the name "sparrow," but they are in the same family as the other North American sparrows, so I didn't want to exclude them. ![]() They are fairly easy to separate from the other sparrows, because they don't really look like what you would typically consider a sparrow. We'll get these two out of the way first. That said, here are a few terms you should know, since they come up a few times here, and are important terms to know outside of sparrows as well: For the most part, I will try to avoid jargon - at the risk of losing a bit of precision in my description of field marks - but it shouldn't detract from making accurate identifications, and will hopefully serve to lessen the barrier to entry. The winter species are a great place to start building up your identification skills, and will serve as a springboard to learning the additional sparrow species that migrate through and/or nest in the northeast. For birders in the target area, this will quickly get you up to speed with well over 99% of the sparrows you will encounter during winter. If you bird in coastal areas, or farther south/west, there will be additional species to consider. You could write an entire book about sparrow ID (and several have been written!), so to simplify the process of learning, and to keep this from turning into something unusable, this guide is aimed at beginner to intermediate level in inland locations in the northeast, with a particular emphasis on Pennsylvania since that is where I am based. once you know what to look at, most individuals you encounter are fairly straightforward to identify. Sparrows are a family group that many birders struggle to get a good handle on, but while most of them share certain characteristics - small, brown, etc. ![]()
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