Great sparrows in the yard today! I have a large patch of ground recently revealed by the removal of a massive laurel hedge and the ground feeders are loving it. It helps that I reseeded the area today and, oh my, isn't grass seed tasty.
Oregon Juncos are plentiful in fall and winter and have been here in my yard just a few days. Song Sparrows are year-round but their numbers increase in the fall.
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I got very excited when I saw this bird.......
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It's the tan-striped form of the White-throated Sparrow! I don't see them all that often so it's pretty cool when they show up. They are a fairly common winter visitor in Oregon but not always a common backyard bird.
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![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4EGRBcbYOYw/SOkh06_tGnI/AAAAAAAABoE/1-wCpqt-hwc/s400/IMG_0971.jpg)
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Check out the sparrows above and below. From the neck down they're about the same but the head pattern is the key field mark. The White-throated is above and the Golden-crowned Sparrow is below. They are in the same genus (Zonotrichia), including White-crowned Sparrows and Harris's Sparrow
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4EGRBcbYOYw/SOkh1a3yprI/AAAAAAAABoU/q7bXbLC3Z00/s400/IMG_0968.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4EGRBcbYOYw/SOkh08-LMhI/AAAAAAAABn8/rgvMnZdm33E/s400/IMG_0976.jpg)
I hope I'll soon be able to post photos of a Fox Sparrow.....a more regular winter visitor to my yard, er, garden.
4 comments:
You just couldn't let me have the White-throated, you had to go and get one too!! My guy is a tan form too. Cool to see him, huh??
What FUN!!!
I still have very, very few birds in my yard; it's almost spooky!
I've had White-crowned sparrows before...but have never ID-ed a White-throated one...nor a Fox Sparrow. Perhaps this year...I am getting better! LOL
Good birding!
Very beautiful birds. Nice photos. :)))
Hi great readinng your blog
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