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Dickcissel?

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

10 years ago

I think I saw a Dickcissel
this morning hanging with the House Sparrows. Not great pics but
everything blends in with the ground nowadays. The last time I saw a
Dickcissel was in November 2009.

The bird has a hint of yellow on the breast and eyestripe, a pale
chestnut shoulder patch, and a face pattern different from the House
Sparrow.

Cornell's All About Birds site (linked above) says:

"Female House Sparrow similar to female Dickcissel,
but is stockier, lacks the thin black streaks on the sides of the
throat and any streaks on flanks, has a shorter, blunter, yellowish, not
bluish bill, rounded wings, and a broader, less yellow eyestripe."

Dickcissel on the top of the pic, female House Sparrow on the bottom.

I also posted this on the New England Gardening Forum.

Claire

Featured Answer

Pat Z5or6 SEMich

10 years ago

I'd like to say that I was once married to a Dicksissel, but I wouldn't do that on here.

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Comments (6)

Pat Z5or6 SEMich
10 years ago
I've never seen a Dickcissel, Claire. Thank you so much.
Pat Z5or6 SEMich
10 years ago
P.S. Probably the Dickcissel thinks it is a House Sparrow.
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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I think this is a female or immature Dicksissel, but I could be wrong. I love saying the name.

Dicksissels are common in prairie states but rare here in the east. Apparently they expanded into New England a few hundred years ago when agriculture cleared the forests, but they retreated when the fields were abandoned and the forests grew back. This was just for the breeding season, though, they headed to Central and South America for the winter. Birds of North America Online has a nice discussion of this under historical changes of distribution.

I checked ebird and there have been a few sightings in November and December this year in Massachusetts. I hope they'll head south when the cold finally comes - these are not winter-hardy birds like the look-alike House Sparrows.

I hope this one hangs around to Monday and Tuesday which are my Project FeederWatch count days.

Claire
lizpb85
10 years ago
Here in Iowa if you can find a rare expanse of undisturbed grass (usually restored prairie) you will be able to observe Dicksissels in abundance. They are amazing, beautiful birds with distinct songs and they are very hard to miss as they sit atop the grass, beak pointing in the air announcing their territory. I believe that this is indeed a Dicksissel. I hope they stuck around for your count!
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
10 years ago
I'm not sure if it's the same Dickcissel, but I did see one yesterday for my count.

It came with a large flock of House Sparrows (I usually only see a few) so they may be traveling. We had snow yesterday and today - I guess the late warm fall is over.

Claire

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