[LKB-28]

Hi Guys;

Could you please take at a look at;

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/IMG_2291.jpg

...and put me out of my misery!

MANY thanks in advance...

Cheers;

Lee

[John Cantelo]

Tricky, but I would tend towards Spanish Sparrow. The bill looks a bit chunkier, the supercilium seems on the bold side, the gap line extends to below the eye, there's a hint of paler 'tramlines' on the back and a hint of streaks on the underparts - all pointing towards Spanish Sparrow,

[LKB-28]

Hello John;

MANY thanks for your input...

I've gone back & forth so many times, I must admit I'm still not convinced...

On the one hand I don't see enough (any!) "streaking" in the breast for a Spanish, but the overall look & feel doesn't appear right for a House Sparrow...

I don't think I'm confident enough to make the call on a Spanish - which is a shame, since it would be a new add for me...

Anybody else have any input please?

HAPPY CHRISTMAS to one & all...

Cheers;

Lee

[John Cantelo]

Originally Posted by LKB-28

Hello John;

MANY thanks for your input...

I've gone back & forth so many times, I must admit I'm still not convinced...

On the one hand I don't see enough (any!) "streaking" in the breast for a Spanish, but the overall look & feel doesn't appear right for a House Sparrow...

I don't think I'm confident enough to make the call on a Spanish - which is a shame, since it would be a new add for me...

Anybody else have any input please?

HAPPY CHRISTMAS to one & all...

Cheers;

Lee

A shame nobody else has joined in as my experience of female Spanish Sparrow is not extensive. Trouble is that when I see Spanish Sprog I'm so seduced by the attractiveness of the males I rarely bother to look at the females! I suspect we're pretty much at the 'same place' with this one - my gut feeling says Spanish, but when I look critically at the image it's difficult to be 100% confident. However, I'm not too worried about the degree of streaking as this is variable. I'd be a bit leery of ticking such a specimen as a 'lifer', but I think, on balance, it is a Spanish Sparrow ....... or a hybrid House/Spanish Sparrow! To be honest I doubt such a hybrid could ever be ruled out on a shot like this and at the edge of the species range hybrids are more frequent. Which brings me on to the question - what is the status of the species where the photo was taken?

[LKB-28]

Hi John;

Shot was taken in hotel grounds on the Jumeira strip, Dubai, UAE in November... aaaah the sun & the heat... only vague memories now... sigh... but I digress!!!!

According to a UAE listing I found, both House & Spanish Sparrow are common resident breeders in the UAE, so that doesn't really help... (Regrettably UAE Birding blew-out my forum application (!) so I can't consult the local "experts" there...)

Cheers;

Lee

[John Cantelo]

You could ask my old friend Tommy Pederson who lives in that 'neck of the woods' - I don't have his details to hand, but type in his name & "birds" should take you to his webpage and thus give you his email address,

[John Cantelo]

Now that I'm back on my 'home computer' I can give you Tommy Pederson's contact details - 777sandman@gmail.com . Tommy's a Grade A* birder and based in Dubai. If he can't confirm the ID then nobody can. Just tell him that John sent you!

[LKB-28]

Hi John;

MANY thanks again... e-mail sent to Tommy... I will report back...

Cheers;

Lee

[LKB-28]

Hi John;

The GURU has ruled...

Tommy kindly replied to my enquiry - 85% House Sparrow is his judgement; so I accept that...

Guess I'll just have to go back to Dubai again for the Spanish tick!

Hope you have a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS...

Cheers;

Lee

[John Cantelo]

Originally Posted by LKB-28

Hi John;

The GURU has ruled...

Tommy kindly replied to my enquiry - 85% House Sparrow is his judgement; so I accept that...

Guess I'll just have to go back to Dubai again for the Spanish tick!

Hope you have a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS...

Cheers;

Lee

I knew Tommy would come up trumps. Although I have to agree with you that the bird did look worth checking out. Dubai seems an awful long way to go for Spanish Sparrow when you can see them in ... umm ... Spain! You'll have to join me on one of my regular jaunts down there,