Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Forums · Bird Photography

Sparrow ID, please?

Discussion

4 replies
Posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 13, 2013 at 4:59 PM
Sparrow ID, please?
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in Lower SC, today.Can't find a for sure ID in Sibley.
Posted by John Neukirch on January 13, 2013 at 8:58 PM
Well Phil no one else will take a stab at it yet I guess I will. I lack confidence when it comes to sparrow id's but what the heck. I'm guessing a nonbreeding adult swamp sparrow. A lincoln's sparrow intrigued me for a moment but see that would be quite rare for that area. Also a song sparrow has a heavier beak. Don't hold me to that but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I will post the correct ID. Maybe I'll be right.
Posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 13, 2013 at 10:01 PM
Might be a good call!
Posted by Brian Gatlin on January 13, 2013 at 10:04 PM
John has appropriately narrowed it down the the Melospiza sparrows, and he's right with the Swamp Sparrow ID. A Lincoln's will show much finer, crisper streaking on the breast (against a nice buffy background), while a Song will have coarser, stronger streaks, and the Swamp (as here) has poorly defined blurry streaking on the grayish breast.
Posted by Colleen Tillett on January 14, 2013 at 1:00 AM
Definitely a Swamp Sparrow. :wavey: