Post by JeffOver on Jun 24, 2008 15:40:40 GMT -8
Yesterday, on the trail to Widgeon Falls was a sparrow with white outer tail feathers similar to those of a junco. The tail was brown with definitely white outer feathers. Size and stance was similar to that of a fox sparrow (that was my first guess before I looked at it thru binoculars). Overall colour was brown on top (I know, "brown" is not very helpful when trying to ID a sparrow 
), lighter on the belly (definitely not gray or white, maybe light brownish?), with a distinct concentration of dark spots on the breast and a distinct eye ring. I can't remember whether there were any other facial markings--if there were, they were not very distinct. It was foraging on the trail and flew into the bushes as we approached. The surrounding habitat was all mature forest--a mix of deciduous and coniferous with lots of undergrowth. The bird made no sound. To give you an idea of what I saw, the best match as I can remember it, would be the Fresh Adult Vesper Sparrow pictured in the Sibley guide to Birds of Western North America. However, the habitat doesn't match. Also the spotting on the breast looked a lot more like actual spots than what the Vesper Sparrow has, somewhat similar to those of a Swainson's Thrush (and there were lots of those around too). Does any one have any ideas as to what species this might be? Sorry, I didn't get any photos.
), lighter on the belly (definitely not gray or white, maybe light brownish?), with a distinct concentration of dark spots on the breast and a distinct eye ring. I can't remember whether there were any other facial markings--if there were, they were not very distinct. It was foraging on the trail and flew into the bushes as we approached. The surrounding habitat was all mature forest--a mix of deciduous and coniferous with lots of undergrowth. The bird made no sound. To give you an idea of what I saw, the best match as I can remember it, would be the Fresh Adult Vesper Sparrow pictured in the Sibley guide to Birds of Western North America. However, the habitat doesn't match. Also the spotting on the breast looked a lot more like actual spots than what the Vesper Sparrow has, somewhat similar to those of a Swainson's Thrush (and there were lots of those around too). Does any one have any ideas as to what species this might be? Sorry, I didn't get any photos.
