sparrows

[Richard Kinney]

Over the next several weeks. Most of the winter sparrows arrive. For those of you how are new to birding get our a Good Field Guide and study the sparrows. I use several I have the Sibley guide at home and keep the National Geographic guide in the car.
They are 4 sparrows that really confuse people.
Savannah- any sparrow in short grass or a field with a few trees is likely a Savannah.
Song-one of the most common sparrows prefers weedy fields and taller grass and lots bushes. It also likes places with water.
Lincoln's-like a Song but grayer with a very slight eye ring and generally skulks in bushes.
Swamp-really likes cattails. The bird to me is badly misnamed. Should be called the Marsh Sparrow. In October and November lots of sparrows flock together. So it is a chance to study but study habitat and field guides before you go out.
Savannahs are already at Lake Tawakoni. Swamps and Lincoln's will arrive with the first cool front. Both generally arrive before Songs. Songs are not generally around before about Oct. 20.

[Perry]

I couldn't agree more. Sparrows are a favorite topic of mine. You learn to identify them by what they are doing, where they are, and what sound they make. The field marks are the final identification after having weeded several species out from the previous questions. Example:

I'm walking a field with short grass no higher than my knees. I keep seeing birds flying from the ground out in front of me and land on small brush or fence wires. They call a faint seep as they flit and fly. They sit and watch me for awhile then drop down or fly off. I'm probably looking at a Savannah Sparrows without ever checking the field marks. Now I'm trying to see if I can find the hint of yellow over the brow to help lock the identification. I do find some Savannah's by themselves, but more often where there is one there are more.

I keep walking the short grass and head towards a fence row with lots of bushes, weeds and dead branches all over the place. I see a heavy streaked bird by itself hopping deep inside. Once in a while it makes a heavy tink call. I'm probably looking at a Song, but it could be a Lincoln's. Do I see a fluffed crown pushing me to a Lincoln or do I see heavy malors and maybe a chest spot pushing me to Song. Is there gray or not?

I continue along the fence line and the mesquite bushes get thicker and higher. There are even a few live oaks around, but the ground is covered in the same short grass. A handful of sparrows flush from the ground up into the trees. They could be Savannahs, but they like more open area and they flush to itty bitty mesquites and fence wires. These birds are flushing to the heavy cover of a tree or large brush. I'm probably looking at Field Sparrows. Now look for the tail-tail colorations to confirm.

This same appoach works for all the sparrows. LeConte's - Did I see a heavy flash of orange when it flew? White-throat - Is it on the ground near dead leaves and other ground clutter?

[Richard Kinney]

sparrows like all birding starts with habitat, habitat, habitat. Is the ONE things that most people over look. I have led many field trips to L. Tawakoni and when cross into that shortgrass at the lake shore we start kicking up sparrows some times by the 100's a few fly and perch on the fence and birders rush to look at them at they are of course Savannahs we walk a few feet 10 more fly up and perch in a small tree, Savannahs again. This can be repeated all through the field.
Another sparrows is relatively easy is Chipping Sparrows. The prefer reidentail areas or parklike surroundings. People seem to stress over the Little Brown Jobs. But by looking at habitat and then a little stuyd it becomes so much simpler. But like always there one or two throwin to make you study.

[Maestro]

Besides I house sparrows I have only indentified and photographed three types, the savannah, the lark and the white crowned I think. I'd like to find more. Thanks for the posting some suggestions on how to find them.

[Richard Kinney]

If you want to try a seriously hard challenger might I suggest- empids-Least. Alder, Willow, Yellow-bellied and Acadian Flycatcher. Better yet try Semipalmated, Western, Bairds and White-rumped Flycatcher. How about GULLS-what nightmare they can be. I know Ken Nanney and I both experienced that terror!!!!

[Maestro]

Yes, Richard. That would be a challenge. Just looking at the guides I can see how similar they all are. Just this past summer I took a picture of what I thought was a western kingbird down in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Well, it wasn't. It was either a Couch's or a Tropical Kingbird, but I can't tell the difference for the life of me. I can't remember the song of the bird which is apparently the only way to really distinguish between the two.