Trying to Learn

[dihoekstra]

Okay, I am trying to figure out this bird on my own. Don't tell me what it is yet, but help me with two things. Is it a sparrow of some sort? Is it a juvenile? The two close ups are the same bird. The picture of the back is his/her friend.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/381186769_d91dc43f55.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/381186768_b964dcf85b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/381186765_8fa0d2e90a.jpg

[betsy]

Given the shape and color of the bill, the facial pattern and the location in the tree (and the fact that I know it isn't one of the finches), the sparrow section of my field guide is definitely where I'd be hunting for it.

Sparrows generally lose their juvenal plumage by somewhere between August & October, depending on the species. If you're using a Sibley field guide, he gives you a date guideline on his illustrations of juvenal plumages. Then you can get first winter plumages. You should probably be looking at those, where given, if you can't find it in the adult plumages. Assuming, of course, that you took the photos recently. (If I tell you the age, you won't work hard enough for this id!)

Di, it often helps to try to figure out the genus of the sparrow if you can, or eliminate genuses that have several species, by tail length, presence or absence of notch in the end of the tail, streaked or unstreaked breast, bill color and things like that.

[dihoekstra]

After studying both Sibley and NG Field Guide for last hour or so, I am stuck between song sparrow and savannah sparrow (understanding they could also both be wrong). The breast and throat markings are very similar to the song sparrow, but the size seems too big. I also saw many white throats and this sparrow was smaller than them. Also the savannah sparrow matches the notched tail and slight crest. I found these guys as I was walking through a the field behind the park this afternoon. They were in the grass and flew up to the tree. I thought all of the streaking on the breast would make them easy to identify, but I am not having much luck. I also spotted my first spotted towhees. At least they were easy to confirm! In addition to these two new species for me, I heard two great-horned owls calling to one another. I could almost pin point where the closer one was to me, but the creek was between us. Anyway, am I even close between the Savannah sparrow or Song sparrow?

[djringer]

Yes, you getting close! The bird in your photos is one of the two species you are considering. Your observations about the tail shape are right on, and you are smart to compare the bird with other birds of known size. To help you make a final decision, I suggest you also study the subtleties of the face pattern and the breast pattern. Both Song and Savannah sparrows have streaked breasts, but the streaking is not quite the same. The bird's bill color can provide another clue. If you get a chance to observe the birds again, another very helpful clue is the sort of call the birds give. Savannah Sparrows usually give very sharp, high-pitched calls, but Song Sparrows sound almost like the yips of a tiny dog. David

[dihoekstra]

I remembered that one of you suggested googleing (?) suspect birds for comparison. So I googled the savannah, song, and vesper sparrows. One feature that stood out that I wasn't confident about mentioning was the beak. The savannah sparrow's beak has a black streak on top. I thought from my pictures that it might be a shadow. I also read about the these birds' behavior in this book I just bought by Pere Dunne. The behavior described most matched that of the savannah sparrow---how they are usually flushed from the ground and land in the nearest tree. They are also what Mr. Dunne called "usually tame and allow close approach." Might be able to get back to the park and listen to the call.

Savannah Sparrow...that's my final answer! (Whew, identifying sparrows gives me a headache!)

[One Strange Bird]

... I also spotted my first spotted towhees. ...
So what kind of towhees were they before you spotted them? (Ba-dum-BUM!) :D

[betsy]

Good going, Di. Yes, those little characters can be a pain to identify, but all the effort you went to should help you remember this species better. The behavioral and habitat clues are a big help. I think I read somewhere that Savannah Sparrows are our most common species of sparrow, so there should be plenty of opportunity to see more of them.

Now if I could only see all the birds I hear, for long enough to id them.......

[dihoekstra]

Yeah, speaking of hearing...do I get to count the owls? I know there were two because one would call from a distance and the one near me would answer. But I never saw either of them. The one calling near me was in the general area where I always see him/her fly away from me or hear the calls. One of these days, I will get a look at this guy...that will be my ultimate victory (well, as far as birding goes :) ).

[Perry]

How you count birds is up to you. Hearing birds is a key part of my counts. I have a personal rule that I have to see my life bird. After that, heard only is the same as my eyes. In fact, without hearing tallies, I would not have an accurate picture of what can be found in Arbor Hills.

Because of my personal rule, some of my data is funny looking. A Common Poorwill is an example. I went years and years with no sightings, but I heard them during every campout. Finally, about two years ago I found a pair in the road in my car head lights. They sat in the gravel letting me pick out every detail of their ID using my headlights. After that sighting, I had tons of records added to my database (all by sound).

CLARIFICATION: Poorwills are not at Arbor Hills. I mixed two topics. Sorry for the confusion.

[dihoekstra]

Thanks, Perry. You all have helped me so much! Thanks so much for your insight and patience. This hobby is so therapeutic for me. Who knew birds could bring so much enjoyment! I am also finding I enjoy just studying the different trees...color, shape, size, holes, etc. It's like each one has a story to tell. Okay, I'm sounding weird, now. Thanks again!

[lei]

(Whew, identifying sparrows gives me a headache!)
I couldn't agree less. :) I took the following shot last Dec. For 90% time, I think the goofy looking sparrow is an immature White-crowned sparrow. For the other 10%, my mind tells me that it may be a field sparrow.

http://www.pbase.com/3stones/image/71905703.jpg

[betsy]

I am also finding I enjoy just studying the different trees...color, shape, size, holes, etc. It's like each one has a story to tell. Okay, I'm sounding weird, now.

Nothing at all weird about that, Di -- they do have a different story to tell! For instance, while driving down I-45 I noticed that they can tell you when cattle have been in a field for awhile, because the branches and foliage all start at the same level line above the ground -- the highest the cattle could reach to munch on them. That flatness on the underside is not a normal growth pattern for most trees.

There's another thing trees can tell you -- something about the layers of soil and rock underneath them. Arlington has lots of post oaks because a soil layer with good drainage reaches the surface there, which those trees need. Between Dallas and Arlington is a stretch where the trees are mostly mesquites -- this stretch has a fairly impervious clayey layer above the layer that surfaces in Arlington. Mesquite trees can grow there because they send down taproots that can reach as much as 120' deep, so they can reach the water in the lower layer that other trees can't. I wsa really intrigued to learn this in a class on historical geology.

Yes, I know you are talking about the stories of individual trees, and I agree that each individual tree has its own story to tell -- just thought I'd mention that they also have collective stories to tell.

[One Strange Bird]

I am also finding I enjoy just studying the different trees...color, shape, size, holes, etc. It's like each one has a story to tell.
http://www.yellowbrickroadonline.com/images/56_59351L_Tin_Hut.jpg

[dihoekstra]

Very cool! I can tell I am among friends. I have often thought with the right camera equipment and imagination, you could create a whole picture gallery or collection around intriguing trees. Then if there's a bird in the shot, all the better! If it's the owl that's been eluding you, that's ultimate. Do certain birds favor certain trees? That would be good knowledge for birding, too.

[danator]

:) I shoot quite a few of the same dude, i think your 90% is about right. That perch looks familiar.... :D

I couldn't agree less. :) I took the following shot last Dec. For 90% time, I think the goofy looking sparrow is an immature White-crowned sparrow. For the other 10%, my mind tells me that it may be a field sparrow.

http://www.pbase.com/3stones/image/71905703.jpg

[danator]

One more for you, i'm not sure how rare this is at VCDB but i only seen it once. Tiny, bright dark yellow/Orange. Habitated in thick and long glass, but can't help perch in the open for a sing. :)

http://www.pbase.com/danator/image/74074283.jpg

[betsy]

Hmmm......that's a bird I haven't managed to get a for sure look at yet -- just a possibility as the little blur zips a bit farther away in the grasss, but I think it's a LeConte's Sparrow. They lurk down in the grass most of the time, so they're really hard to see -- congratulations on getting such a good shot of one, Danator!

Very cool! I can tell I am among friends. .... Do certain birds favor certain trees? That would be good knowledge for birding, too.

Yep, you are! And yes. Some birds are even named for their preference for certain kinds of trees (when the trees are available) -- Oak Titmouse, Juniper Titmouse, Pine Warbler, Pine Siskin, Willow & Alder Flycatchers, for example. Some cavity-nesting species (Red-cockaded Woodpecker, e.g.) are endangered because of their need for dead trees of a certain age. The Golden-cheeked Warbler is one of the most at-risk species in this country because of its preference for Ashe juniper habitat for nesting (the bark of this tree forms a major part of its nesting material), which is found in a limited and declining number of counties on Texas' Edwards Plateau.

Then there are individual birds that favor a particular tree for a particular purpose. I read of a Northern Cardinal not long ago that invariably slept on the same branch in the same tree near someone's back door. Sometimes the presence of several owl pellets under a branch will tell you that an owl likes to eat in that spot (or at least likes to upchuck its pellets in that spot!). I expect you know of the group of trees that the wintering Double-crested Cormorants favor for their dormitory at White Rock Lake.

So yes, knowing the tree preferences of species that have such preferences helps you know where to look for them, and finding a tree that's favored by an individual bird for a particular purpose helps you find it repeatedly.

[lei]

Danator: You were correct about the perch.:) I went to VCDB several times since our last meet. Currently there were too much water in the fields on the eastern side. Last time I almost had my car stuck in the mud.:eek:

By the way, one of your bosque shots should fit the Birdscape motif very nicely.

[Connie Sandlin]

I concur with Betsy - it's a LeConte's Sparrow. Several birders got good, long looks at this species on a field trip to the Audubon Dallas property at Lake Tawakoni one year ago.

Connie

[danator]

Yes, i believe it's a Leconte's Sparrow as well.


Currently there were too much water in the fields on the eastern side. Last time I almost had my car stuck in the mud.:eek:


I need a good car wash after the trip. My car suffer as well. They closed few roads now due to the 4x4 incident ;) , good news is those were the places with less activity.

[Connie Sandlin]

What was the 4x4 incident?