It is a female HOSP. Did Van Ert get her, good job!

Donna

oh thank goodness! Yes, van ert trap.. this one didn't have clear markings like the others AND it was smaller. I searched the web for female pics and I was about 95% sure... thank you!! whew!

She started a nest, so should I try to trap again tomorrow? Try to get her parnter in crime..? A male has got to be bonded with it or the female wouldn't have started building a nest, right?

It's so funny, I had at least a dozen HOSP and once I took out like 7 of them, they all seemed to disappear! I saw one pair, hopefully I got one of them today, that nested in the gutter, rain washed them up there! It's like they KNOW somethings up...

Please learn to identify birds before you ... Sialis has a good comparison. A clear breast with no spots or streaks, barred wings and a cream colored eye stripe is a female hosp. Chipping Sparrows have an eye stripe but are smaller and have a rust colored cap. Study the other birds that are similar. Many birds look alike if you don't look closely. If you are catching them with the Van Ert and it is brown the chance is really good it is a hosp. When in doubt let it out!!!
Cathy

Keep up the good work! Once in a while you may trap one that doesn't have distinguished eye markings but, as Cathy says, you can be certain by looking at the wings and chest. I see you're using the laundry bag method--it works great for me.
Take care,
Kathy

Thanks guys! I was just about sure, but if I did make a mistake, I didn't want to do it again. I have a lovely pair of chipping sparrows coming to my feeders and I was sure it wasn't one of those.. I looked up all the females of the species that came to my feeders and this one was just a little different than the other HOSP.

Yes, the laundry bag works really great. I'm going to try to get the male from this pair today. My luck will be once I get rid of sparrows, then wrens will move in..

I've never had any other kind of sparrow investigate a nestbox. I have had finches sit on top so they can be near their bluebird buddies but they don't bother with the entrance hole. Good luck getting the male today.
Word must have spread at my house because, after trapping 2 males and 3 females, I haven't seen a hosp in over a week now.
Kathy

Absolutely a female HOSP. House Finches have striped breast. They DO occasionally use nestboxes. Other brown birds that use nestboxes include House Wrens (pointy beak) and occasionally Carolina Wrens (pointy beak.) See other brown birds link.

Sometimes other brown birds temporarily perch on a nestbox but would not go inside. E.g., chipping sparrow, which has a chestnut cap and distinctive black eye stripe.

I have heard VERY sad tales of people killing Black-capped chickaee (black bib) or shooting other song sparrows at feeders. It is, of course, important to be absolutely SURE of identity before taking ANY active control measures.

Also important, of course, to check inbox traps hourly. Even tho this is a "live trap," A native bird trapped in a box for longer can die.

House wrens will be out and about soon - already in Ohio.

Here is a link that might be useful: other brown birds sometimes confused with HOSP

Thanks for everyones input! I don't really like being a "bird slayer", and I CERTAINLY don't want to make a mistake! I looked over the links here and a few more too.. I feel so much more confindent now.. the "other brown birds" have pretty clear markings.

My trap house is about 100 ft from my bay window.. I couldn't see the "dot" of tripped trap.. so I moved the house around a bit so I can see from my house without going outside. I still need binoculars.. getting old I guess! I check it almost constinately, don't get anything else done when a trap is in use.. oiy!

Any tips on getting a bird into the ground trap that I caught in a house trap?

AHH! Now I'm sitting and watching the male go in and out, in and out... AHH! I just saw two more females..

SHOULD I try to put him in the ground trap if I catch him? I'd REALLY hate to let him get away.. I'm not sure if I want to mess with the ground trap and a live bird though..

I find the ground trap to be a hassle this time of year and prefer to use the in-box traps. If you do decide to use the male as a decoy inside the ground trap, remember to make certain he has food and water and is in a sheltered place (such as a garage) overnight. I usually prefer to use females as decoys because the males tend to kill every other bird that gets in the trap. Make sure if you do decide to use the ground trap that you monitor it continuously, especially for the inadvertant trapping of a native species. In my experience, mockingbirds and carolina wrens often get trapped. I use my ground trap more in the late summer and fall to trap juvenile hosps. They aren't as experienced around "contraptions" yet and are easier to trap.
Also, many people glue bread crusts or popped popcorn to the bait area so that the food can't be grabbed easily.
Good luck,
Kathy

Thanks Kathy,
Your post helped me decide to just use in box traps for now. I don't want that male killing something else. Plus hubby doesn't like the idea of this whole trapping business. I do have bird feeder and waterers for cages.. should probably check if they will work on the trap though.. I just was thinking of getting the two new females..

Since the male bonds with the nest box, once you trap him, those two females should move on. I agree with Kathy that at this time of year it is so much easier to use the inbox traps.