https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghg07Ohqtw&feature=youtu.be
I think you will agree that the bird IDs up to now have been fairly easy. I am hoping you have learned to look for the field marks that help distinguish one bird from another. This week we have a sparrow. These birds present a challenge to birders because, as we discussed in a previous post, they are ground feeders and most of their time is spent on or near the ground. Many of them nest on the ground. So they all have that camoflague plain brown look that causes some bird watchers to throw up their hands and just say, "I really don't care about the little brown jobbies."
So let's review the things we look for to separate one bird from another.
Does it have a distinctive crown marking such as a solid cap or stripes
Does it have an eye-ring
Does it have lines above, through, or below the eye
What color is the throat
What color is the chest or does it have distinctive markings
What color is the belly
What color are the wings and do they have wing bars.
What is the shape and color of the tail, is it round, flat or notched on the end.
These are the most helpful thing so look for to begin to separate all birds but when it comes to plainly colored birds it is really important to go through the check list.
This bird barely makes into the US on the Texas border and can be commonly found in most of Central America. It is a very plain bird and many of the markings you will look for on the above list will not be present. The other way that you can easily tell sparrows apart is if they are singing because each has a distinctive song and this guy is no exception. Good luck and happy birding.
I think you will agree that the bird IDs up to now have been fairly easy. I am hoping you have learned to look for the field marks that help distinguish one bird from another. This week we have a sparrow. These birds present a challenge to birders because, as we discussed in a previous post, they are ground feeders and most of their time is spent on or near the ground. Many of them nest on the ground. So they all have that camoflague plain brown look that causes some bird watchers to throw up their hands and just say, "I really don't care about the little brown jobbies."
So let's review the things we look for to separate one bird from another.
Does it have a distinctive crown marking such as a solid cap or stripes
Does it have an eye-ring
Does it have lines above, through, or below the eye
What color is the throat
What color is the chest or does it have distinctive markings
What color is the belly
What color are the wings and do they have wing bars.
What is the shape and color of the tail, is it round, flat or notched on the end.
These are the most helpful thing so look for to begin to separate all birds but when it comes to plainly colored birds it is really important to go through the check list.
This bird barely makes into the US on the Texas border and can be commonly found in most of Central America. It is a very plain bird and many of the markings you will look for on the above list will not be present. The other way that you can easily tell sparrows apart is if they are singing because each has a distinctive song and this guy is no exception. Good luck and happy birding.
We loved this bird!
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