ML81089381

Age and sex

Unknown age, Unknown sex - X

Observation details

Large reddish-orange and gray sparrow associating with a large flock of Dark-eyed Juncos approximately 200-300 meters north of the junction of Alden and Wilcox Trails south of the Suspension Bridge. Mostly it was between two interpretive signs involving biocontrol of weeds using flea beetles and "human homes". The bird was slightly longer than the juncos but much plumper. It spent the majority of time picking about the understory out of sight but once flew up into Virginia Creeper vines enveloping cottonwood and boxelder trunks. It had a yellowish beak (both mandibles about the same), gray eyering, dark eye, wide gray supercillium, reddish auricular, gray and red striped back, gray lower mantle, reddish wings with two white wingbars that were more like two rows of connected white spots, bright reddish plain rump (brightest patch of red anywhere on the bird), duller reddish tail, white underparts marked with wide reddish upward-pointing chevrons, a central brown blotch ("stickpin") and bright pink legs and feet. The bird was silent except for maybe making one inconspicuous "seep" when it flew. A continuing bird, it was discovered and reported by Andy Bankert on 5January2018.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 60D

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

ISO

1600

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/400 sec

Dimensions

1334 pixels x 1610 pixels

Original file size

2.18 MB