Desert Song Sparrow (???) / Clay-Colored Sparrow (???), Green Valley, AZ (1 Viewer)

[JohnKoerner007]

Sorry about the shabby photos, I couldn't get a clear shot.

Any help is appreciated 😃

 

[Butty]

Lincoln's sparrow? - narrow crisp underpart-streaking, finely-streaked throat, buff submoustachial stripe, pale central crown-stripe.

 

[KC Foggin]

It's definitely not a Clay-colored Sparrow. Not with all that frontal striping. And, from the images I looked at for Desert Sparrow it does not look anything looking like that.

 

[JohnKoerner007]

Lincoln's sparrow? - narrow crisp underpart-streaking, finely-streaked throat, buff submoustachial stripe, pale central crown-stripe.

I think you nailed it 👍

 

[rkj]

Certainly a Lincoln's Sparrow.

 

[SueO]

Looked at the bird first, and your 'wildlife' photographer second. Beautiful photography. Why don't any of my photos of Lincoln's Sparrows look like that?

 

[lmans66]

Nice shots....yes...Lincoln as told by the side of the face.... I am from GV..although am in Australia at the moment so perhaps will see you in the field~ jim

 

[JohnKoerner007]

Looked at the bird first, and your 'wildlife' photographer second. Beautiful photography. Why don't any of my photos of Lincoln's Sparrows look like that?

I am a little obsessive about lenses ... 400mm and 800mm

 

[JohnKoerner007]

Nice shots....yes...Lincoln as told by the side of the face.... I am from GV..although am in Australia at the moment so perhaps will see you in the field~ jim

Thanks, that would be great, my Facebook link is there

 

[Butty]

Lincoln as told by the side of the face

Having enjoyed the rare pleasure of identifying an American sparrow correctly (on other features), could you help me further by saying what the side-of-face feature is exactly? Ta.

 

[lmans66]

Having enjoyed the rare pleasure of identifying an American sparrow correctly (on other features), could you help me further by saying what the side-of-face feature is exactly? Ta.

You always look for patterns, so forget color to begin with other than grayscale. Look at the pattern of the facial features in this case and see how unique it is to other features found.

Years back, field guides....(perhaps by necessity) were made in black and white. Birders would ID the pattern and not concentrate or be misguided by coloration etc. Patterns, the habitat, the way the bird might perch, etc....

So when Looking at a Lincoln's sparrow....in Green Valley, ...they are pretty common this time of the year in SE Arizona so habitat fits. Then for the pattern, look at the first image. If you can imagine grayscale, look out the lighter shades of gray reaching back on the cheek. Look at the eye ring.... It has an overall dull appearance given the gray on the cheek though. jim

 

[Butty]

look out the lighter shades of gray reaching back on the cheek. Look at the eye ring.... It has an overall dull appearance given the gray on the cheek though

I'm a bit lost. So . . . what's the difference in the pattern of the side of the face between song sparrow and Lincoln's sparrow?

 

[lmans66]

I'm a bit lost. So . . . what's the difference in the pattern of the side of the face between song sparrow and Lincoln's sparrow?

Here is a good shot ...the Lincoln is on the left... The song is larger, to me in the field, the paleness of the Lincoln is larger as it extends back along the cheek and above the eye...

 

[Butty]

the paleness of the Lincoln is larger as it extends back along the cheek and above the eye...

Well, they're different - but not in those ways. Anyway - never mind - thanks.

 

[lmans66]

Remember, I was trying to stick to 'grayscale' in my response

 

[connorco]

I'm a bit lost. So . . . what's the difference in the pattern of the side of the face between song sparrow and Lincoln's sparrow?

Lincoln’s are grayer overall in the face with a more contasting, Buffy mallar. Their breast streaking is also thinner and shaper, and usually is covered in a buff colored wash.

 

[JohnKoerner007]

Another image ...



Again, my apologies I couldn't get a clear shot. Too many sticks in the way.

But for sure, at least to my eye, it looks like a Lincoln's.

My own opinion is color is important. Birds actually see more colors than we do.

The song sparrow looks darker, more brick-colored.

The Lincoln's sparrow looks grayer, more buff-and lighter-colored.

 

[raymie]

Lincoln's Sparrow