** Reply to note from Jon Anderson -


> Is it likely or possible that this is a hybrid White-Throated X =
> White-Crowned Sparrow?? After releasing the bird (banded, of course; I =
> sketched it and presumed that I'd determine its parentage afterward..), =
> it dawned on me that I should have photographed it for a more certain =
> ID, but darkness was coming on, and I didn't want to stress the bird =
> more than necessary (Science thwarted once again in the interests of =
> compassion to the individual....).
>
> If anyone could shed some light on this bird, I'd appreciate it. =
> Without more to go on, my inclination is to report this to the Bird =
> Banding Lab as a hybrid, but I'm always open to reason

About a year or a year and a half ago when Al Jaramillo was on Tweeters, you
may remember that he had a young _Zonotrichia_ sparrow at his feeder in
Halfmoon Bay south of San Fran that even he couldn't figure out (I'm sure you
could find the post if you did a search through the archives). You may want to
contact him to see if he has nailed the ID. Your bird sounds similar. Al's
e-mail is: alvaro at sirius.net

- Jack

P.S. Al, if you're lurking, we want you back!



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca