Mountain View, California USA - longshot sparrow (1 Viewer)

[Fandango739]

Seen in late October, only a couple of yards from the Bay.
I tried Birdnet twice; each time it could not give a certain ID, but suggested Brewer's Sparrow. The sound quality was so bad (vehicles, equipment, wind, waves, people, at al) that I am surprised that the app could make any suggestions whatsoever.
The photo was taken with the only camera (my cell) I could have with me at the time. (Not a true birding day, but my nephew is now a happy, married man.)

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

Chances are, it is a white-crowned sparrow. The habitat does not match Brewer's. Brewers is said to inhabit sagebrush and grasslands.

 

[qwerty5]

Looks wrong for Brewer's.
Shape and head pattern is much better for White-crowned, but with the low-quality photos I don't think a certain ID is possible.

 

[rkj]

Chances are, it is a white-crowned sparrow. The habitat does not match Brewer's. Brewers is said to inhabit sagebrush and grasslands.

At this time of year, in this area, Brewer's Sparrow might show up in almost any open habitat. They are rare, however, and I agree that this is more likely a White-crowned Sparrow, but not identifiable with any certainty.

 

[tom baxter]

It looks like a White-crowned Sparrow, in addition to that being the most common and abundant sparrow species in Southern California by a landslide.

 

[rkj]

It looks like a White-crowned Sparrow, in addition to that being the most common and abundant sparrow species in Southern California by a landslide.

Is there a Mountain View in southern California? I had assumed this was the one near the southern end of San Francisco Bay, in the northern part of the state. White-crowned Sparrow is probably the most common wintering sparrow there as well.

 

[tom baxter]

Is there a Mountain View in southern California? I had assumed this was the one near the southern end of San Francisco Bay, in the northern part of the state. White-crowned Sparrow is probably the most common wintering sparrow there as well.

There is one in San Diego but it’s in the city. You’re probably right about it being San Francisco Bay Area.