Sparrows - Texas (April 2017) (1 Viewer)

[Paul Collins]

Hi,

I have various sparrow photos from west Texas (late April). For some reason these ones have me stumped.

Seen in dry desert areas with mesquite.

Field Sparrow? - seen at Caprock Canyons State Park


Clay-Coloured Sparrow? - seen at Big Bend National Park


Olive Sparrow? Not sure, the wing details are throwing me as I'd expect more uniform green from Olive.


Thanks,

Paul

 

[Kratter]

1) yes Field Sparrow
2) yes, Clay-colored Sparrow
3) Cassin's Sparrow
Andy

 

[birdmeister]

Agree with 1 and 2. My first thought on #3 was Grasshopper Sparrow based on the upperpart colors, but I am not getting a Grasshopper head shape at all. I suspect Andy is right with Cassin's Sparrow.

 

[Paul Collins]

Thanks both. That Cassin's Sparrow is quite confusing - I also got the Grasshopper vibe from the wings but not from the head.

This is a Cassin's that I photographed, I think in the same area, but it looks quite different.

 

[KC Foggin]

Yes on 1 & 2, not sure on 3 though.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

This is a Cassin's that I photographed, I think in the same area, but it looks quite different.

View attachment 634390

Isn't that a Chipping?

 

[KC Foggin]

No black front eye stripe on this Sparrow.

 

[Kratter]

Classic Peucaea shape: flat head, very long tail. Some of these species (e.g., Cassin's) also show a little yellow in the bend of the wing, like a Grasshopper Sparrow. You can see that the tail feathers have some white tips; they look to be molting.

Andy

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Classic Peucaea shape: flat head, very long tail. Some of these species (e.g., Cassin's) also show a little yellow in the bend of the wing, like a Grasshopper Sparrow. You can see that the tail feathers have some white tips; they look to be molting.

Andy

Which bird are you talking about? I'm still not convinced that the last image the OP posted (in post 4) isn't a Chipping. Or is the chestnut crown a trick of the light?

 

[Kratter]

Isn't that a Chipping?

Agree

 

[rkj]

Field, Clay-colored, Cassin's, Chipping.

 

[tom baxter]

Field, Clay-colored, Cassin's, Chipping.

this is correct

 

[Paul Collins]

Brilliant, thanks everyone