ML644545193

Detalles de la observación

Discussed identifying subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow shortly after observing and photographing this individual. Got side-tracked with the LBDOs and forgot to review the pics. The Sibley Guide on these birds gives a good description of the differences between subspecies (https://www.sibleyguides.com/bird-info/white-crowned-sparrow/) and leads me to the conclusion this bird is a Gambel's. There are two primary features that stand out to me. First, the expected variety in NC, Leucophrys, should have dark lores even in immature plumage. The bird we spotted had very clean lores not a hint of gray or discoloration, which is expected on a Gambel's. Second, the bill on this bird is largely yellow with only a hint of pink on top of the maxilla (a largely yellow bill is also a Gambel's trait) while Leucophrys should have a bill almost entirely pink/orange. Edit: After feedback from the reviewer, and a review of the Sibley documentation for the relevant sub-species, it appears there's enough overlap between immature Eastern Taiga and immature Western Taiga to make conclusive identification of this immature bird to a sub-species impossible. It's likely that all of the other immature Gambel's reported in NC are improperly identified as well.