ML646617852

Observation details

Continuing awesome find by Max E yesterday. Only second NY record (first in 2000). Foraged in grassy strip on eastern perimeter of the upper parking lot, alongside other sparrows. Flew once into adjacent shrubs, but quickly returned to the grass to feed. Medium sized, long-tailed sparrow with a flat-crowned head, fairly large pinkish-gray bill, and thin white eye rings. On first appraisal, plumage appeared drab and nondescript, with no striking field marks. But prolonged observation revealed a melange of subtle yet intricate patterning on various feather tracts, a hallmark of many sparrow species but taken taken to another level by this one.