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Hybrid Tree-x-House or Italian Sparrow? NE Germany, June 2018 (1 Viewer)

CARERY

Well-known member
The attached (with permission of the photographer) Sparrow has been photographed a few days ago in Güstrow, NE Germany. There are three photos showing only the same posture and angle. I've not much experience with either Italian (of course not very likely here) or Hybrid Sparrows. I wonder if someone here at BF has? Is it possible to make a conclusive ID from only this shot?
 

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The attached (with permission of the photographer) Sparrow has been photographed a few days ago in Güstrow, NE Germany. There are three photos showing only the same posture and angle. I've not much experience with either Italian (of course not very likely here) or Hybrid Sparrows. I wonder if someone here at BF has? Is it possible to make a conclusive ID from only this shot?

If we could just see more of the forehead/crown it would help, I think I'm seeing some dark grey on this shot which would be right for House/Italian hybrid (of which I had several at our previous house due to a male Italian Sparrow breeding over three or four years with female House). Are the two other photos exactly the same angle, just a bit more of the head would be good.
Edit: I've attached a photo of one of our ItalianxHouse hybrids as an example, though looking at your posted photo again I wonder if I detect a "shadow" cheek spot, which of course would take us back to House x Tree hybrid. Don't you just love sparrows!;)
 

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Unfortunately the other pictures show if at all less of the crown. The "shadow" cheek spot might indeed be a good hint that a Tree Sparrow is involved. Which would of course be the much more probable explanation!
 
Yesterday the observer was at the spot again and managed to get more pics. Looks really Italian to me, no grey feathers on the crown, no 'shadow' cheek spot... Hmm. Would be happy to get some more input!
 

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Me too. But the question is then how do you tell a proper Italian Sparrow from a Spanish x House hybrid?

Steve
 
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