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Sparrow ? Dripping Springs New Mexico USA (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter jonsund
- Start date
RJP
Well-known member
I don't think it's an American Tree Sparrow, as for one thing they should show a bi-colored bill, not a solid yellow one, and more of an eye ring. A Field Sparrow should also show more of an eye ring, have a pinkish bill, and wouldn't have the dark eye line behind the eye.
I struggled to put the yellow bill, facial features, rufous crown, and wing bars together. The only thing I could come up with was an immature White-crowned Sparrow of the Pacific race. That would be a ways out of range in Las Cruces, but with the California storms, maybe it's possible.
I struggled to put the yellow bill, facial features, rufous crown, and wing bars together. The only thing I could come up with was an immature White-crowned Sparrow of the Pacific race. That would be a ways out of range in Las Cruces, but with the California storms, maybe it's possible.
Last edited:
The Bird Nuts
Birding Duo
I agree with immature White-crowned Sparrow. What's wrong with it being a Gambel's?
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Exactly
jonsund
Florida Naturalist
RJP
Well-known member
As I started the confusion, I'll try to clear this up.
White-crowned Sparrows are divided into several sub-groups. Gambel's is one of them, which ranges in the interior west. I live in the east, and I'm used to the appearance of the sub-group here, which has a pink bill. I was struck by the yellow bill of the subject individual here. Consulting Sibley, I found that he shows the yellow bill only on the Pacific group, which should not be anywhere near Las Cruces.
Although Sibley shows orange-pink bills on the Gambel's sub-group, it turns out that they can have yellow bills as well. Thus, that is the obvious explanation for this bird - it's a White-crowned Sparrow in the Gambel's sub-group and being in Las Cruces in the winter is within its normal range.
White-crowned Sparrows are divided into several sub-groups. Gambel's is one of them, which ranges in the interior west. I live in the east, and I'm used to the appearance of the sub-group here, which has a pink bill. I was struck by the yellow bill of the subject individual here. Consulting Sibley, I found that he shows the yellow bill only on the Pacific group, which should not be anywhere near Las Cruces.
Although Sibley shows orange-pink bills on the Gambel's sub-group, it turns out that they can have yellow bills as well. Thus, that is the obvious explanation for this bird - it's a White-crowned Sparrow in the Gambel's sub-group and being in Las Cruces in the winter is within its normal range.
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