ML612089297

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Fox Sparrow, apparently representing P. i. zaboria, photographed by Curtis A. Marantz on 8 December 2023 at Desert Center, Riverside County, California.

Observation details

After hearing loud, “smack” calls coming for the dense thicket of desert woodland off the southeastern corner of the property, we eventually managed to locate the calling bird, initially scratching on the ground under the trees in this small corridor of dense woodland. It was only after this bird began moving east from tree to tree out into the desert that we were eventually able to get reasonable views when it perched near the top of a Palo Verde tree along a desert wash 100 meters or more east of the larger woodland thicket. This bird called repeatedly, which allowed me to follow it through the desert, in which it would typically fly when I approached within 50 meters, but once perched atop the Palo Verde, it remained in view for an extended period of time, providing reasonable views through my scope and some photographic opportunities. Apart from my brief views of the bird in flight, I saw it briefly through vegetation on the ground and perched atop the tree, but its behavioral repertoire was limited. This bird appeared to be a relatively large sparrow with a conical bill, a rounded crown on a head of unremarkable size, a short and inconspicuous neck, a plump, body, and a relatively long tail, but I failed to note in the field the finer details of its structure. For example, I failed altogether not notice the wing structure, compare the length of the tail relative to the body, or note the shape of the tail’s tip. Even when seen in the shade through dense vegetation, it was clear that this bird was distinctly reddish above, but it was only when it perched in the open that I was able to see any real detail in the plumage. I thought the head, back, wings, and tail were all quite rufescent, but I also noted a reasonably hold supercilium that contrasted with an auricular region that had a conspicuous, dark frame. In the field, I thought the head was mostly rufous, but in photos, it is clear that the dark rufous of the crown and auricular borders contrasted with a gray supercilium. I did not see the back overly well in the field, but what I saw appeared to be a rather dark, rufous-chestnut in color with an uneven appearance, yet I was unable to see clear streaking above. The wings were also a deep rufous to rufous-chestnut, and even though I noted a contrast between darker centers and more rufescent fringes to the remiges in particular, and seemingly subtly paler tips to the greater coverts, I did not think there were obvious wingbars. The rump did contrast somewhat as even brighter and more rufous than the back, wings, or tail, but even the tail was distinctly rufescent. I noted a whitish submoustachial=stripe that contrasted with the generally darker face, a dark malar stripe or wedge, and a whitish throat. I further thought the underparts were mostly whitish, but there was crisp streaking or spotting of dark reddish-brown across at least the breast and sides that continued to some degree down the flanks, but I was less sure about the center of the belly, and I am not sure I ever clearly saw the undertail coverts or the underside of the tail. The bill combined a yellow base to the lower mandible with a mostly dark upper mandible and, if my memory is correct, tip to the lower. The eyes were dark, but I was unable to discern their color, and I cannot recall anything about the legs or feet.

Technical information

Model

ILCE-7RM5

Lens

FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

ISO

320

Focal length

600 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

2042 pixels x 1255 pixels

Original file size

3.89 MB