Song or Savannah Sparrow (1 Viewer)

[littletiff99]

I saw this sparrow at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Southern California a few days ago. I usually don't have a problem telling these 2 sparrows apart but for some reason this one is stumping me. Can anyone ID it for me?

 

[Tiraya]

Song Sparrow.

Has no yellow lores, chestnut on wings, overall colour (especially in face).

 

[MichavdB]

Agree with Song for the reasons stated.

 

[SueO]

The bird is so gray and the bill is small (short--angle??) for song. Usually, Beldings are the Savannah's I see at Bolsa Chica and they show the yellow lores even after a bath. Is is possible that this is a juvenile swamp?

 

[littletiff99]

The bird is so gray and the bill is small (short--angle??) for song. Usually, Beldings are the Savannah's I see at Bolsa Chica and they show the yellow lores even after a bath. Is is possible that this is a juvenile swamp?

I don't think we get Swamp Sparrows here. I believe it's out of range

 

[Bird_Bill]

Agree, song sparrow. Fine frontal streaking carrys up throat of Savannahs.

 

[littletiff99]

Thanks everyone! I figured song sparrow but the coloration just seemed a little wierd to me. And most of the savannahs I saw that day clearly had yellow lores.

 

[SueO]

I don't think we get Swamp Sparrows here. I believe it's out of range

Yes, they are there (CA). I was just throwing it out because the bird looks a little strange to me.
EDIT: They are only there in winter--sorry. Maybe young Cal Coast Songs look gray?

 

[littletiff99]

Yes, they are there (CA). I was just throwing it out because the bird looks a little strange to me.
EDIT: They are only there in winter--sorry. Maybe young Cal Coast Songs look gray?

I did not know that. I shall keep an eye out for them.

 

[SueO]

I did not know that. I shall keep an eye out for them.

I was just looking and found that a Swamp was spotted in San Berdu last month. They're rare, but if I can find a Black and White Warbler at Huntington Central, why not? I wanted to look at my sparrow photos before saying anything, but the computer with most of my photos is dead and I don't have access right now. I just don't remember seeing Songs that gray and the bill didn't seem right. Getting senile I guess.
Sue

 

[fugl]

Looks like a typical Pacific coast Song Sparrow to me (cf. the illustration in the western Sibley, p. 422).

 

[JANJ]

Check here:

http://www.aba.org/birding/v42n6p44w1.html
http://www.aba.org/birding/v42n6p44.pdf

JanJ