Saltmarsh Sharp Tailed Sparrow or Song Sparrow? (2 Viewers)

jward

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2004

• #1

Hello all. Noted this sparrow on my first ever trip afield with a camera (Canon S1 is). I was excited! I'm not sure if this is a Saltmarsh Sharp Tailed Sparrow or a Song Sparrow. The third picture I'm attaching is of the location here in Central New Jersey where the photo was taken. Please advise your thoughts. Thanks!

Jarrod

 

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  Marsh small.jpg

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bob parsons

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2004

• #2

Looking at the bill only, I would eliminate Saltmarsh as Nat Geog. shows a long bill flat at the top. The streaking on the side should tell us something, but this is a hard one!---ah heck,Song!

 

lassa8

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2004

• #3

Is that bill thick enough to be a song sparrow's? For some reason the bill just doesn't seem right to me, even though I want to call it a song sparrow.

 

dacol

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2004

• #4

jward said:

Hello all. Noted this sparrow on my first ever trip afield with a camera (Canon S1 is). I was excited! I'm not sure if this is a Saltmarsh Sharp Tailed Sparrow or a Song Sparrow. The third picture I'm attaching is of the location here in Central New Jersey where the photo was taken. Please advise your thoughts. Thanks!

Jarrod

Click to expand...

I agree it is not a Saltmarsh S.T. Sparrow. The head and beak are a bit out of focus and with weird light pattern making it difficult to reach a good conclusion. But from what I can see from the head and the clear white belly I think it is a Savannah Sparrow.

Dalcio

 

Last edited: Sep 25, 2004

erizzo

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2004

• #5

I agree with Savannah. It doesnt look like a Saltmarsh sharp tailed or a song sparrow

 

jward

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2004

• #6

hmmm.. I hadn't thought of Savannah Sparrow, but I have seen groups of them fluttering from a perch (5-15 second pause) then flying back into the marsh grass. That seems to fit the description of the Savannah Sparrow.

The one reason why I still consider the Saltmarsh Sparrow is that I am only about 1 mile (as the crow flies, as they say...) from a bay of the Atlantic. Thanks for everyones input and look forward to more speculation!

jarrod

 

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bob parsons

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2004

• #7

I think Song still! The beak is too big for a Savannah thinks a friend of mine!
I just wish we could see more of the breast.