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Post by Jeffar on Mar 6, 2009 9:31:37 GMT -8
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Post by Wetlander on Mar 6, 2009 10:48:57 GMT -8
Could be wrong...
but I'm thinking Song.
Songs show a real range in colour around our place, and these grey guys are common.
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Post by Jeffar on Mar 6, 2009 11:02:18 GMT -8
i have lots of song sparrows at my place. as you can see in this pic, song sparrow markings on the head are very bold and unmistakable. the bird in the previous pics looked quite different to me and my family  |
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Post by Dave on Mar 6, 2009 16:30:52 GMT -8
Hi Jeffar,
Good on you and your family for thinking Swamp Sparrow. The two photos show a great contrast, but I think they both are Song Sparrows. (Disclaimer: This coming from a guy who has only seen 1 Swamp Sparrow in this life). You definitely have the right idea for a Swamp, just more pronounced yet. The grey colour will probably really stand out and the back colouring is often quite bold.
I don't know what bird guide you have, but often the guides will show a real range in the Song Sparrow colouring. A Song Sparrow down where Thor and Len are right now almost looks like a different species! I think Sibley does a descent job of trying to show the range in his big Guide to Birds. I am not sure what is shown in his smaller Western guide. We get several variations in the valley. They can very in size as well, with the Alaskan Song Sparrows being a bulkier bird than the Pacific/Northwest birds.
So glad to hear that people like you are watching the feeders and thinking about the more unusual possibilities. Keep the pictures coming!
Dave
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Post by skalyn on Mar 15, 2009 17:16:29 GMT -8
I think it is a swamp sparrow...if you look at the thick grey supercilium of the swamp sparrow compared to the narrower grey supercilium of the song sparrow. Also, the tarsis look very long on the swamp sparrow.
Just a thought...
Stacie
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Post by Gord on Mar 16, 2009 21:15:57 GMT -8
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