This little carrot top has been hanging around under my feeders for a while now, any ideas?
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noemi
south texas

Maybe a chipping sparrow

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

Do you have any other pictures that show either the breast and/or sides in better light? My first impression is American Tree Sparrow, but I'm not certain.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

She is in South Texas Jill. If she was in West Texas Rufous-crowned Sparrow would have to be considered. It has been so long since I've been there that I forget whether they occur that far east, but I don't think so. It is a rather dull Chippy for spring.

I believe Sarah's right. Noemi's place is too far east/south for a Rufous-crowned and way, way too far south for American Tree Sparrow. I think Chipping Sparrow is the most likely candidate. The only other rusty-capped sparrow in her range is Swamp, and I think the sides are much too pale for that.

Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge LA

American Tree Sparrows do make it to north Texas in the winter, and I would suspect they occasionally pop up further south in the state, especially in mild winters - so let's not rule it out solely on geography! I was able to find records from the lower Rio Grande area, even. I know that when we hear hoofbeats we should think horses and not zebras, but still...

This bird doesn't really look like a Chippie to me - I would expect a much crisper looking bird with greater contrast on the head. That's part of why I asked if she had better photos with better lighting.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

Jill,

I suppose American Tree Sparrow is possible, but going on likelihood of American Tree Sparrow in the lower Rio Grande Valley vs. likelihood of a wintering Chipping Sparrow not having molted completely into its alternate plumage, I'd go with the latter.

While I'm not that familiar with American Tree Sparrows (since we don't get them here), the bird does seem to have the dark line through the eye and lighter, almost white stripe above the eye that I associate with Chipping Sparrows in alternate plumage.

But yes, Noemi: if you can get a good look at the chest of the bird, and a picture to back it up: if there is a dark spot in the center of the breast, it's an American Tree Sparrow. If the breast is clear, I think it's probably a Chipping Sparrow. That mark is pretty definitive between the two species.

Kevin Morgan
Baton Rouge

In addition to the central breast spot, I think American Tree Sparrows have a yellow lower mandible as well?

Ruth
Everett, WA
Zone 8

Kevin, you're absolutely right that a Chippie is more likely. I just wasn't convinced of any identification from this photo, especially since I did not feel I could rely on apparent colors (I'm not certain if the lighter part of the brow is actually lighter, or differently lit). I would love to have a few more photos to work with, especially if this individual is in transitional plumage and therefore has a mosaic of features.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

Based on this bird not having prominent white wing bars or the lower yellow mandible, and based on the location, I say it is definitely a Chipping Sparrow. Also, an American Tree Sparrow wouldn't have such a defined black line through the eye.

Jeff

To me, that line looks the same color as the cap - rufous. And I can't tell if the lower mandible is pinkish or yellowish. Maybe it's my monitor, but I just wouldn't be comfortable ruling something out based on this photo alone. If we didn't know the location, we might not be making the calls we are.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

See this photo below. I tried to find an ATSP image from the net in as close to the same position as the Chipping Sparrow pic.




The missing white wing bars, absence of highly patterned wing and back feathers, lack of two toned bill, and lack of rufous colored eye line that ends behind the eye into an elongated pattern, all point to the bird in question above being a Chipping Sparrow (even with the lack of central breast spot in the tree sparrow image for comparison), and one that appears to be molting from winter plumage into breeding plumage. Based on this comparo, I think Noemi had a Chipping Sparrow. Plus, chipping sparrows can be quite common on the Rio Grande Valley, south Texas and southern New Mexico in March as they begin to migrate north. I studied Neotropical Migrants during spring migration in southern New Mexico, and Chipping Sparrows begin to migrate north in this region in March with Brewer's and other sparrows.

This is a great excercise showing how darned difficult it can be to identify the LBJ (little brown jobs). LOL.

I forgot to log in so hope this doesn't post twice.

Jeff

Jeff I'm deleting your double post That's a nice comparison photo and review of the field marks. Sparrows get a dim view as being only plain LBJ's but I love them and only wish we had a greater variety here in WA. And also, I see where you're a speaker at the Sandhill Crane Festival! I won't be able to attend this year but wanted to wish you the best of luck, have fun!

Ruth
Everett, WA
Zone 8

Yes, the LBJs are a pain. Personally, without another photograph to nail down some of the characters we're discussin, I would call this "probable Chipping Sparrow" and leave it at that. I'm not convinced of the coloration given the shadows in the photo, but will agree to think horses this time, and not zebras. In the field, AMTS and CHSP are pretty distinctive; amazing how tricky photographed individuals can be.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

Thanks for deleting the double post, Ruth. This will be the first year I am attending the Sandhill Crane Festival and am very excited about being a speaker. I will be presenting the results of my six years of monitoring Western Bluebirds nesting in natural cavities. Sorry you can't be there...it would be fun to finally meet you!

Jeff