ML236463921
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
An unusual Song Sparrow, conspicuous in its rustiness and dissimilarity to the locals that are year-round residents (my first distant impression was a colorful Fox Sparrow). Seen at ~11 am, so alpenglow lighting not a factor. Choice of montana/merrilli based on Birds of North America, Peterson sparrows guide (Wright), IGNAB (Pyle), Sibley, National Geographic guide (Dunn & Alderfer), Macauley Library and this site: http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/MTYbirdsSOSP2.html . Other options seems to be an Eastern ssp. melodia / atlantica (paler fallax ssp. discounted due to the dark contrast in the plumage and back apparently lacking light gray, and presumably they are less migratory). Thoughts are welcome. [Date would seem to be unusual for any choice mentioned...] [Regarding heemanni group option, looked unlike majority of birds listed as such on Macauley Library and didn't really fit any of the descriptions in the sources listed above, though I guess theoretically they can look a similar color depending on the lighting, and can lack a lot of streaking on the chest?] Examples of eBird-accepted records of montana/merrilli in California: https://ebird.org/checklist/S49897813 https://ebird.org/checklist/S25408476 And melodia / atlantica out west: https://ebird.org/checklist/S26805295 https://ebird.org/checklist/S51657578 https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S53360189 Interestingly, this individual was also seen where the majority of unusual sightings are spotted at this location (the first few sprinklers / dense wet habitat near the entrance). It was heard communicating with an unseen individual, both making insect-like calls, then switched to its finch-like call.
Technical information
- Model
- DSC-HX400V
- ISO
- 100
- Focal length
- 215 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/6.3
- Shutter speed
- 1/250 sec
- Dimensions
- 700 pixels x 716 pixels
- Original file size
- 370.66 KB