http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064831/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604677564/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064801/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil-jeffrey/4604064731/
Click on the "all sizes" icon to see the original size that I uploaded (900x600). A word on color: this bird looked more uniform and perhaps darker in the undergrowth than it does here. I warmed the images a little to compensate for the color cast induced by shooting in shadows but the bird is in mixed lighting which produces the usual complications for color considerations. This bird was NOT shot with flash since I don't think it's smart to do that with rarities (and it produces its own color issues e.g. with Catharus thrushes). A quick scan of the Rising sparrow book (the photo one) makes me think that this is not the Sooty/Pacific race but one of the interior west races, based partly on the coloration of the bill but also on the lack of uniformity of plumage coloration. The Hermit-like more rufous tail was evident in the field, although perhaps not quite as blatant, but the contrast between the back and the wings was more limited. Sadly I now have to work and unable to do more research until later. Phil Jeffrey -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
