Song sparrow? Indianapolis, IN, 46221 (1 Viewer)

[ThrottleItOut]

Thoughts on an ID? The streaking, eyeline, behavior, location, etc are all consistent with a song sparrow, but I've never seen the white neck feathers. I took multiple photos, it is not a photo artefact. The white is symmetric, 360 around the neck. I've googled through a bunch of song sparrow photos and can't find any that match, but can't find anything else that matches either.

 

[Butty]

Aberrant plumage.

 

[ThrottleItOut]

Aberrant plumage.

Thanks. Bird was making me question my sanity.

 

[Butty]

It's far more likely that the bird is just a weird one than that you are going bonkers 😉👍🏻

 

[ThrottleItOut]

It's far more likely that the bird is just a weird one than that you are going bonkers 😉👍🏻

Ha, if only that was the sole data point pointing to me going bonkers...

 

[birdmeister]

Juvenile Chipping Sparrow can show a pale neck like this. The shorter, pinkish bill along with paler central crown stripe and broken eye-ring favor a young "Chippie" over Song, too.

 

[Jim M.]

Agree with juvenile Chipping Sparrow. Note the dark eyeline.

 

[ThrottleItOut]

Ah, you're right, juvenile chipping sparrow is an excellent match. Thank you!