sparrow ID help, please. Northern Michigan (1 Viewer)

[Hainan on the fly]

Not sure if both are good for Song Sparrow? Marking on the flanks and chest of second individual seemed a little light.

Any insight appreciated.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[stuartelsom]

First bird (2 pics) good for Song Sparrow. Second bird is a White-throated Sparrow. If you look carefully on the 4th pic you can see the yellow loral patch, and although partially obscured, it has a white throat.

Stu

 

[Hainan on the fly]

First bird (2 pics) good for Song Sparrow. Second bird is a White-throated Sparrow. If you look carefully on the 4th pic you can see the yellow loral patch, and although partially obscured, it has a white throat.

Stu

Excellent! I see what you mean. Thanks!

 

[Ilissa73180]

First bird (2 pics) good for Song Sparrow. Second bird is a White-throated Sparrow. If you look carefully on the 4th pic you can see the yellow loral patch, and although partially obscured, it has a white throat.

Stu

Agreed.

 

[nartreb]

Agreed. The second bird also has a rather different head pattern from the first. Presumably, you were focused on the black spot at center breast. In this case it's not due to color on the feather surface, it's a gap through which dark underdown / featherbases / skin is showing.