I don't know if the photos are publicly accessible but Cesar the finder sent Corey photos that he took and they were posted in NY FB group. Those photos looked more like a Clay-colored Sparrow. Keep in mind as we discuss this bird that the light conditions yesterday at Flushing Meadows was overcast for much of the day which could play a role in how the plumage looked in photos taken yesterday vs the day it was found.
On Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 7:23 AM, Shaibal Mitra <shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu> wrote: > To clarify one point that has been raised, Clay-colored Sparrow is also > very long-tailed, like Brewer's. This distinction vs. Chipping > (shorter-tailed) is sometimes evident in the field. > > Shai Mitra > Bay Shore > ________________________________________ > From: bounce-120005371-3714...@list.cornell.edu [ > bounce-120005371-3714...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Steve Walter [ > swalte...@verizon.net] > Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 9:41 PM > To: 'NY Birds' > Subject: RE: [nysbirds-l] Queens spizella sparrow > > I had the opportunity to photograph a few Brewer’s in Arizona in September > 2012. I say Brewer’s because they are expected there – vastly outnumbering > Clay-colored. But matching up some of the pictures to field guides was more > difficult than you would think, especially with few actual photographs to > compare to. I have a few of my pictures available online still, if anyone > wants to compare. In one of them, the tail appears especially long. Also of > note is that the crown streaking looks finer to me than on the Queens bird. > Of course, age and time of year have to be taken into account. > > The address is http://stevewalternature.com/steve/sparrows.htm . The > pictures to look at are labeled Las Cienagas 07, 08, and 09. > > > Steve Walter > > From: bounce-120005318-8873...@list.cornell.edu [mailto: > bounce-120005318-8873...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of David Klauber > Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 8:36 PM > To: NY Birds <nysbirds-l@cornell.edu> > Subject: [nysbirds-l] Queens spizella sparrow > > I've done a bit of research on this and I think identification to species > is inconclusive, as there seem to be characteristics that favor both > Clay-colored and Brewer's. There is more confusion because I think the side > of the face that shows a black semi-circle might be feather bases caused by > the wind or ruffled feathers, since neither species shows this. Like almost > everyone else I don't have extensive experience with either species, > especially Brewer's, but here's what I've found from checking the Nat Geo, > Sibley, Stokes photo guide, and Rising & Beadle's sparrow guide. > > There seems to be weak streaking on the gray nape, which I think should be > stronger for Brewer's, but shouldn't be there for Clay-colored. The > eye-ring seems a bit weak for Brewer's as well - could it be worn? The > black streaks on the back are listed as good for Brewer's by Rising, etc, > but Sibley paints Clay-colors with a similar pattern. Deborah Allen > mentioned the tail looking short for Brewer's, and most books show Brewer's > with a long tail. The overall color looks more like the grayish-brown of > Brewer's. The face pattern doesn't look strong enough for Clay-color, but > doesn't really match Brewer's either. > > The Stokes guide has a photo on page 666, bottom left, which comes pretty > close to the Queens bird, but not quite. There is supposed to be a > difference in the cheek color, but the previously mentioned black > semicircle obscures this, although I think it's more gray (Brewer's) than > buff (Clay-color). I don't know what to make of the faint blurry streaks on > the side of the breast, but it does match the same Stokes photo. The pink > bill is black on top, also good for Brewer's. > > So to my eyes a real head-scratcher. Hybrid seems the easy way out, but I > don't know much about worn or transitional plumages for either. > In any event a very interesting bird, even if it's a dull LBJ. > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave< > http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail Archive< > http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> > Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > -- > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave< > http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail Archive< > http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> > Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > -- > > ________________________________ > Support CSI students this holiday season each time you shop with Amazon > Smile<https://smile.amazon.com/ch/13-3683723> > > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- 風 Swift as the wind 林 Quiet as the forest 火 Conquer like the fire 山 Steady as the mountain Sun Tzu <http://refspace.com/quotes/Sun_Tzu> *The Art of War* <http://refspace.com/quotes/The_Art_of_War> (\__/) (= '.'=) (") _ (") Andrew Baksh www.birdingdude.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
