I would say the distinctly reddish crown stripes and dark eyeline continued in front of the eye to me points to it being a Chipping Sparrow. In Clay-colored the lores are pale or just slightly darkened, not with the fairly distinct dark line that seems to characterize Chipping.

I agree with Mike that either species would be unusual at that date and locality.

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> On Oct 15, 2021, at 5:35 PM, Ryan Justice <blackburnian151 at gmail.com> wrote:

>

> Looks like a Chipping to me.

>

> Ryan

>

> Sent from my iPhone

>

>> On Oct 15, 2021, at 8:28 PM, Mike Patterson <celata at pacifier.com> wrote:

>>

>> As you say, fall Spizellas are difficult and, given that Chipping

>> Sparrow is a resident and Clay-colored is vagrant, it is understandable

>> that one my to default to the more expected species, except that

>> Clay-colored Sparrow is actually less rare than Chipping along the

>> Pacific Coast this time of year...

>>

>> In this case the buffy breast, the strong mustachial mark and

>> the well defined crown stripe and contrast between the very gray

>> nape and the generally buffy tones over say this is a slam dunk

>> Clay-colored Sparrow.

>>

>>

>> --

>> Mike Patterson

>> Astoria, OR

>> I don't know...

>> http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=3924

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