House Sparrow Mutant? (Hybrid?), Portal, AZ (1 Viewer)

[JohnKoerner007]

Never seen a sparrow like this.

Portal (extreme S/E) Arizona.

Any ideas?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello John,

excellent pictures! Tfs!

I agree with you, its an aberrant male House Sparrow with some pigmentation defencies (whitish throat and upper breast, uppertail-coverts and tips to greater coverts), lack of black on the lores and the throat and paler/brighter bill and legs.

I dont see any indication of hybridisation, but better wait for others with experience with NA birds. Thanks from me, too!

 

[Butty]

Presumably aberrant house sparrow. Can't see any reason to think it's a hybrid, and there's nothing related in the vicinity for house sparrow to breed with. I don't suppose things like this are kept in captivity either.