[cnybirder]

Here is a Sparrow for you guys ID. It stumped me when I saw the photo. I have a few ideas but I can't figure a positive ID.
The photo was not taken me and I wasn't there when the photo was taken. I am just curious of what you guys think:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...l/P1030551.jpg

It was taken in San Antonio, Texas. April 2007.

[J. Moore]

Since no one else is responding, I will stick my neck out. Nothing seems to fit perfectly, but the best match I can find in terms of appearance is Vesper Sparrow. I even think I see the little rufous shoulder patch. They can sometimes show minimal breast streaking from the side, see this photo for example:

http://birdhike.com/birds07/w_VESPwithfood.jpg

They would also be relatively common in that area at that time of year (according to eBird anyway). The pink legs and apparent pink bill also fit -- as well as the general back, head, and wing pattern. The big thing that does not fit that well is the apparent habitat; perched in a leafy deciduous tree is not where they would be typically seen. But I have seen other open country sparrows, such as Savannahs, perch in such trees when they are near a grassy area.

I am loading up on ammo to shoot down anyone who dares to offer an alternative suggestion. ;-) The other more likely candidates all seem to have a major drawback.

Cheers,
Jim

[ovenbird43]

Hm... hard to tell without a view of the face or bill.

However, I'm going to give it a shot. My first thought was Lincoln's Sparrow because of the gray and reddish tones, but this bird appears not to have any streaking on its breast. My second thought was Field Sparrow, but the wing bars seem too minimal. Maybe it's a female Indigo Bunting. The plumage of female Indigos is somewhat variable and strongly affected by lighting conditions.

Those are some of my thoughts... more to provide a basis for discussion than to serve as a convincing ID.

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by ovenbird43

Maybe it's a female Indigo Bunting. The plumage of female Indigos is somewhat variable and strongly affected by lighting conditions.

Hi,

Among other things, female Indigo Buntings have black legs, so I think we can eliminate those.

Cordially,
Jim

[birderbf]

Cassin's Sparrow for me. San Antonio is within its range. I can see the fine speckling on the crown (Aimophila trait), the wingbars are right, the leg color, shape. Even the underside pattern matches perfectly:

(halfway down) http://www.borderland-tours.com/v2/content/view/37/57/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/...0ba9ce.jpg?v=0

[AlexC]

For what it's worth, my first impression was Vesper as well, Jim - even before you posted. Mainly based on what we could see of the face/cap pattern and color. Not an easy shot to work from, though.

P.S. I was too much of a wuss to stick my neck out like you, Jim! lol

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by birderbf

Cassin's Sparrow for me. San Antonio is within its range. I can see the fine speckling on the crown (Aimophila trait), the wingbars are right, the leg color, shape. Even the underside pattern matches perfectly:

(halfway down) http://www.borderland-tours.com/v2/content/view/37/57/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/...0ba9ce.jpg?v=0

I agree it could be Cassin's Sparrow. However, Sibley's and most photographs show them having a fairly dark grayish breast. But I see you did find one photo where it looks to have a whitish breast. However, pretty much the same habitat objections to Vesper also apply to Cassin's -- not a bird you would expect to find perched in a deciduous tree. Also, for what it is worth, eBird shows Cassin's to be quite uncommon in the county where San Antonio is located, and Vesper to be more common. See the link here: http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?step=...tinue=Continue

Moreover, Vesper can also show the speckling on the crown. (Though the best photo I have showing that is in my sparrow book (Beadle & Rising, page 107, photo 24.4).

Best,
Jim

[birderbf]

Originally Posted by J. Moore

I agree it could be Cassin's Sparrow. However, Sibley's and most photographs show them having a fairly dark grayish breast. But I see you did find one photo where it looks to have a whitish breast. However, pretty much the same habitat objections to Vesper also apply to Cassin's -- not a bird you would expect to find perched in a deciduous tree. Also, for what it is worth, eBird shows Cassin's to be quite uncommon in the county where San Antonio is located, and Vesper to be more common. See the link here: http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?step=...tinue=Continue

Moreover, Vesper can also show the speckling on the crown. (Though the best photo I have showing that is in my sparrow book (Beadle & Rising, page 107, photo 24.4).

Best,
Jim

Here's a Vesper like that:
http://www.birdingwithwilf.com/image...er-sparrow.jpg

while this one has a remarkably similar wing pattern:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Conservati...gpic/vesp2.jpg

but I can NOT find any Vespers that lack streaking on the breast.

Also, if you open the mystery sparrow photo and compare it side-by-side with the Cassin's Sparrow I cited before (http://www.borderland-tours.com/v2/content/view/37/57/) you can see that what's visible of the head pattern matches quite perfectly.

The similarly raised crowns seem to contrast with the gray eyebrow the same way. There is a dark spot behind the eye, but no auricular frame like Vespers (nor a malar/submoustachial stripe, whatever you want to call it. I think if it was there, there should be a hint of it present).The breast should (?) be grayer (there is a wash), but there should be streaking were it a Vesper.

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by birderbf

but I can NOT find any Vespers that lack streaking on the breast.

I posted a photo of one in my first post. (At least the streaking is minimal enough that it might not show up if it were the bird in the subject photo).

Best,
Jim

[birderbf]

Originally Posted by J. Moore

I posted a photo of one in my first post. (At least the streaking is minimal enough that it might not show up if it were the bird in the subject photo).

Best,
Jim

It's minimal, but this one seems to have even less!
A second photo would be incredibly useful right now, but it looks like photobucket users are basically anonymous (no email or anything).

*gulp* ID frontiers, anyone?

[ovenbird43]

Now that I actually have my field guide with me...
yes, suggesting Indigo Bunting was certainly reaching for straws ; )

If this was a Vesper Sparrow, I really think we would see some streaking... but if this actually is an unusually lightly streaked sparrow, I would consider Lincoln's much more likely based on location, i.e. up in a tree in San Antonio, Vespers usually stick to much more open habitats.

I hadn't considered Cassin's, but what we can see of this bird certainly fits. But is the habitat right? I don't have much experience with this species, but in the guide it says they inhabit open arid lands, while this bird is in a willow in the city.

But, given that migrants can easily turn up in unusual habitats, based solely on the appearance of this bird I think Cassin's comes the closest.

[JANJ]

As birderbf I prefer to be in the Cassin´s camp, and for some of the reasons made. I don´t really see Vesper - tail is to long, the pattern around the eye is not in line with Vesper, no specific pale eye-ring together with the face pattern seen in Vesper, described by birderbf.
Pro Cassin´s characters are the isolated - broadly streaked rear flank, longer tail, in which we don´t see the actual pattern such as the pale tipped outer t-feather of Cassin´s, the whitish broad outer edge of the alula, broader than in real life I suggest, due to unsharpness of the image, the chestnut patterned lower scapulars - only the lesser coverts in Vesper.
However the head is much hidden so another image is needed.

http://www.greglasley.net/cassinsp.html

http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/photos/casp052105.html

JanJ

[J. Moore]

Jan makes some good points. Now that I know from the various photos that Cassin's can have a fairly white breast and belly, I agree it is a stronger candidate than Vesper (though various photos do show that the characteristic Vesper facial pattern can be seriously degraded at times--which is what I was thinking here). But the habitat issue forces me to keep an open mind to other possibilities.

Best,
Jim

[cnybirder]

Originally Posted by birderbf

It's minimal, but this one seems to have even less!
A second photo would be incredibly useful right now, but it looks like photobucket users are basically anonymous (no email or anything).

*gulp* ID frontiers, anyone?

The person who took the photo said there are no other photos of this bird.

I think ID Frontiers might be the way to go. The people on there are the top people and I've been amazed at what they are able to ID (I've been subscribed for about a year and it's been very interesting).
I mention that to him.

Thanks for all the discussion. Cassin's was the one I thought looked most like it as well.