Subject: [Tweeters] RE: Mystery Sparrow REVEALED!!!!
Date: May 13 19:13:02 2009
From: Khanh Tran - fsprucegrouse at yahoo.com


Hi all,
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Thanks to all who participated in hopes of correctly identifying this sparrow.? It was a bit tougher than most birders thought.? Only a handful got the correct ID!
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I got 73 guesses and tallied results at 5:45 PM Wednesday. Here is the breakdown of guesses:
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72% for Savannah Sparrow
21% for Grasshopper Sparrow
1.4% White crowned Sparrow
1.4% Lincoln Sparrow
1.4% Bunting species of some type
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This bird is NOT a Savannah Sparrow as Dave Irons suggested on the Birdfellow.com website.? He nicely photographed different postures and state of alertness of a Savannah sparrow. It was a good attempt to illustrate and support his ID but the bird is a different species.
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I noticed once Dave posted this, only two more guesses came and no one refuted the ID. Dave is such an experienced and seasoned birder and we all appreciate his vast knowledge and skills.? I commend him for having such a wonderful new website and resource! I only hope to complement his insight so we can learn.
Rather than me pointing out the key features of the bird, I have submitted several photos to reveal the birds'identity. It should be clear once you observe several views of the other photos.?
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Overall, the richly colored back patterns and wings are not consistent with Savannah. The mystery sparrow is also very buffy almost yellowish in overall coloration. What a colorful and beautiful bird indeed and I almost stepped on it!!
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This species has quiet variability in color since there are 12 subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrow are recognized.. Four breed in North America, four are resident in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador, and four are resident in the Caribbean.
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The mystery photo I have submitted is a specimen photographed on 5/9 near Nolin, Oregon in Umatilia Co.? I also submitted another specimen found and photographed near Monse, WA in Okanogan county for variability comparison.?
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On a DIFFERENT note and subject, and solely based on my OPINION, I am not convinced that the previously reported and photographed Henslow's found last January at EE Wilson was a Lincoln. Similar poses were captured on camera that made ID a bit challenging,too.
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Yes, there was a definite Lincoln in the first photo but the other photos were not clear. It was suggested by most that it was a Lincoln in all of the photos submitted. Some thought there were two species so it was a bit confusing.
I tried to dig up those images for more thorough re-examination after looking as these recent Ammodramus images. Honestly I think the color and structure was wrong for a Lincoln in the latter photos.? It's skulking behavior on the ground was more consistent with an Ammodramus species.?
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Lincolns can be secretive too, but often pop up when pished at. If a birder had field experience with both species and observed the bird moving and flying, one could have possibility or easily id the bird as a Lincoln OR possible Ammodramus species.
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An interesting bird to say the least and WORTH a second look. But hey, I don't know shit alot of the times as there is so much to learn even after birding for so long:)? More field time will tell, not books and what the majority says:)
In the end, It was fun to comprehensively study and capture these secretive but beautiful sparrows on camera.? I HOPE you all got something out of this.?
There are several skilled and talented birders out there who don't regularly post and I appreciate seeing them off line. Their compliments and support always fuels me to go further and I often get rewarded!? What a fun and humbling hobby!
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Anyhow, Congrats to these keen birders or lucky guessers who correctly guessed GRASSHOPPER SPARROW!!
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Steve Nord
Forrest Rowland
Ron Louderbeck
Pam Otley
Keith Brady
Bill Bradford
Tom Castello
Fran Haywood
Hugh Ranson
Jonathan Isacoff
Trent Bray
Margaret LaFaivre
Henry Herlyn
Dave Parent
Mike Donahue
Ruth Mano