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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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YESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is the hermit thrush!!!! (NOT EVEN LISTED in the MAssachusetts bird book which has 280 pages / 2 pages per bird, or about 140 birds) and he is NOT singing!!!(even though he is listed as having the most beautiful song of the songbirds of North America)-- he is just scrounging for food. Also, I appreciated the song sparrow ID, as well, because that helped identify yet another bird in the collection. So big THANKS to Jeanner (glorious photos!!!--what camera do you use?)and Kendra2 (such a cute pic of sparrow in the snow!) for helping me out. I'm just thrilled to have a Vermonter (hermit thrush is the state bird of Vermont) visiting at our place.
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Looks like you have plenty of House Sparrows, one with white in its wings, a Carolina Wren and a Downey Woodpecker. All of your Sparrows are House Sparrows in these pics, a mixure of juvies, males and females. There was one year I had a young House Sparrow that had white in its wings and tail feathers, never did get a pic of it but it looked really different like that one of yours does. Not sure what you have in your feeders but if you are feeding seed with millet or corn in it you may want to switch to something without those in so as to not attract the House Sparrows as much. Donna
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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.

BN

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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