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Sparrow ID

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

12 years ago

Just when I thought I was finally getting fairly good at identifying the little brown sparrows in my yard in Plymouth, MA, I saw this little guy. It was by itself so I don't have a size reference.

Maybe a first-winter White-throated Sparrow? I have lots of White-throated Sparrows and Song Sparrows, a few Savannah Sparrows and American Tree Sparrows and a Fox Sparrow. There's a marsh nearby and a grassy beach so sparrows there can come up to my feeders if food gets scarce.

On March 4 I saw this sparrow which I tentatively identified as a first-winter White-throated Sparrow. Maybe it's the same bird?

This is a Project FeederWatch count day so I need to record the sparrow (I know I can email the photo to PFW but I thought I'd check here first).

Thanks,
Claire

Featured Answer

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author

12 years ago

Since BN gave the Swamp Sparrow such an enthusiastic endorsement I wanted to see what it would look like in its normal environment, rather than in my yard in late winter.

I searched for a video on YouTube and found this video of a Swamp Sparrow singing in Maine.

Sweet little bird.

Claire

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Comments (7)

birding_nut
12 years ago
Swamp Sparrow.

BN
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, BN, Swamp Sparrow was one of the birds I considered that looked reasonable for my area.

What about the sparrows in the last two photos? Swamp Sparrow also or White-Throated Sparrow (or something else entirely)? If it's also a Swamp Sparrow I need to revise last week's PFW count.

Claire

This post was edited by claire on Tue, Mar 11, 14 at 13:21
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birding_nut
12 years ago
They are all Swamp Sparrows. A hatch-year (HY) White-throated Sparrow, which you could see in its first fall/winter would have white wing bars and would also have the white throat, yellow lores, and black/white head stripes of an adult (After hatch year [AHY]), just paler than an adult. You can check out the link below...it may be helpful.

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Here is a link that might be useful: plumages of WTSP
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks again, BN, for the identification hints and the link. I was going by the old rule (when you hear neighs in the night think horses, not zebras,...) and I tried to make it fit to a bird I often see here, but something just didn't look right.

I wonder what else is out there that I'm overlooking....

Claire
birding_nut
12 years ago
Your welcome. I miss seeing Swamp Sparrows. I haven't seen one in over 20 years since I lived in NY. We don't get them out west where I live now, only as rarities and I miss seeing them when they are reported.

BN
Pat Z5or6 SEMich
11 years ago
i am now a fan of the Swamp Sparrow and excited to learn more about all the Sparrows. You guys are the best. What a great adventure for this 74 year old. I was so bored before finding this forum.

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