ML634971036

Behaketaren xehetasunak

First heard insect-like buzzing song in the distance, so we walked over to look for the source. Spotted the Clay-colored Sparrow perched on a sunflower stalk in Brainard’s sunflower patch. It continued to sing a few times and give us nice looks. Long-tailed sparrow with clean pale breast, belly, and flanks. Crisp facial pattern with dark brown stripe behind eye, broad pale supercilium and malar stripe edged by thin dark mustache. Very clean and contrasting gray nape against brown head and upperparts. Brownish rump rather than gray. Seems content to hang out in the sunflower patch, but does hunker down for long stretches. Pics TBA.