Monday, May 15, 2023

Help with sparrow identification

I wanted this bird to be a migrating Baird's sparrow.  I emailed my photo to two friends, who know much more than I do, for their opinions.  One friend gently humored my Baird's sparrow ID, but then got right to the point as did my other friend.

Before emailing my friends I submitted this photo to Merlin Bird ID and received the following potential identifications:  bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, henslow's sparrow and savannah sparrow.  Of these suggestions I could also see the potential for grasshopper sparrow.      

Apologies for my less than optimal photo.  I had two chances; the first was out-of-focus and the second is below.  Location was a large, weedy wildflower field surrounded by a massive new housing development in Celina, Texas, about 40-45 miles directly north of Dallas.  Date was Saturday, 04/29/23.  Also seen here were Western Kingbirds and Scissior-tailed Flycatchers.  Click on the photo to enlarge.    


The identification independently offered by each friend:  Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis).  My guess of migrating Baird's sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) was magical thinking. 

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