Sparrow near Sonoita, AZ -- could this be a Baird's? (2 Viewers)

[AlphaFan]

Spotted this sparrow on a fence-wire while driving past Sonoita, AZ. Is this possibly a Barid's Sparrow?

 

[birdmeister]

Looks decent for Baird's Sparrow, with what I'd call a buffy/straw base color especially on the upper chest. Head looks maybe flat enough, too. Is there any chance you got more photos? Even a small difference in angle might help eliminate Savannah.

 

[qwerty5]

Even a small difference in angle might help eliminate Savannah.

Pretty sure Savannah would have streaking down the sides and flanks, not just on the upper breast.

 

[AlphaFan]

Looks decent for Baird's Sparrow, with what I'd call a buffy/straw base color especially on the upper chest. Head looks maybe flat enough, too. Is there any chance you got more photos? Even a small difference in angle might help eliminate Savannah.

Thanks for the input. All good points. Unfortunately all other pics are horribly out of focus. Agree with qwerty5 that the lack of any visible side-streaking is negative toward Savannah as well as the bill being larger than normal for that species. The specific necklace band of streaking and notched tail also helps eliminate several others. What also had me leaning towards Baird’s is the orange-brown on the head and if one looks closely at the rear of the left cheek there is at least one dark spot visible. My initial take leaves me leaning toward an immature Baird’s, but since I took the pic wanted opinions of others more experienced with this particular species in order to reign in any personal bias or “wishful birding.”

Any other observations/opinions - please post.

Thanks In advance for any input.

 

[AStevenson1]

Can you rule out a juv grasshopper sparrow from that pic? breast markings too strong? Looks very weak head/face pattern wise for Baird's or even Savannah.

 

[tom baxter]

Thanks for the input. All good points. Unfortunately all other pics are horribly out of focus. Agree with qwerty5 that the lack of any visible side-streaking is negative toward Savannah as well as the bill being larger than normal for that species. The specific necklace band of streaking and notched tail also helps eliminate several others. What also had me leaning towards Baird’s is the orange-brown on the head and if one looks closely at the rear of the left cheek there is at least one dark spot visible. My initial take leaves me leaning toward an immature Baird’s, but since I took the pic wanted opinions of others more experienced with this particular species in order to reign in any personal bias or “wishful birding.”

Any other observations/opinions - please post.

Thanks In advance for any input.

How out of focus are we talking? Any other photos could potentially resolve the question. They’re probably worth posting unless they’re so out of focus you can’t even tell it’s a bird, for example….

 

[AlphaFan]

Can you rule out a juv grasshopper sparrow from that pic? breast markings too strong? Looks very weak head/face pattern wise for Baird's or even Savannah.

Immature birds are always a challenge as all of the differentiating marks aren’t fully developed. I did consider a juv grasshopper but I’ve never seen any with that must breast streaking, and most (esp juvs that I’ve seen) are much buffier on the breast and down the flanks. Also, this bird has a fairly pink bill which is more common to Baird’s. Attached below is a stock pic of a juvenile Baird’s for comparison.

 

[AlphaFan]

Heard from the local eBird experts overseeing that area of Arizona and they’ve concluded it is a juvenile Grasshopper Sparrow. Issue settled. Thanks everyone for your input and deepening my understanding of ID of sparrows. Made all changes to my eBird and life list.