Anyone tell me the name of this particular sparrow?

[mstrozewski]

I saw this sparrow the other day at Antelope Island when I was walking around the marshes. I spotted a lot of red-winged black birds and then this one kept hopping around with them. It doesn't resemble a juvenile red-winged black bird. any ideas? I was thinking...swamp, house, field sparrow?

[Jim B.]

I don't think it's a sparrow.Looks like a Redwinged Blackbird female.

[Donald]

I don't think it's a sparrow.Looks like a Redwinged Blackbird female.

I would concur. We don't have the species here, but upon looking at other reference images, it does seem that Jim's suggestion is correct.

[mstrozewski]

hrm, suppose your right. LOL I have a birding book, but I was looking at sparrows and couldn't find anything. And last time I saw a female red-winged black bird, she was much bigger and slightly different than this. Guess I'll have to go back through my archive of images and compare. Now I feel kind of dumb. HAHA

[Jim B.]

No need to feel dumb.It may be a very young female.Definitely could be mistaken for a sparrow.
The Lincoln Sparrow looks alot like this.
I have the Audubon field guide for NA birds and it's a bit limited on photographs at times. Internet is easier to find examples.

[Donald]

Now I feel kind of dumb. HAHA

No, no no. You mustn't. That's the lovely thing about CiC. We can make mistakes, even when it's in identifying bird species and that's okay.

Interestingly it was what seemed, from the image, to be the relatively small size that was throwing me. It 'felt' sparrow-sized.

[Jim B.]

Took this last year,I think.Notice the gold in the wing.Same in your photo.

[Donald]

That's super, Jim. If it's been up here before, I'm sorry I missed it.

For me the ID came from that strip at the side of head above and behind the eye, and the quite distinctive symmetry in the shape of the beak.

[mstrozewski]

I notice, same bird. Definitely have to be young then. The males are always so flamboyant lol

[Steve S]

Looks like the same species to me. Nice shots , both of you. Sorry i can't help on the id though.

[Jim B.]

Thanks,Donald.I've not posted this before.
Mavourneen,I REALLY like your photo.I like to see some of the environment in wildlife shots.
Wonderful composition and lighting in this one.

[Jim B.]

Flamboyant,definitely! There was a male a few branches to the right of her and he was shoutin' his head off!

[Donald]

Mavourneen,I REALLY like your photo.I like to see some of the environment in wildlife shots.
Wonderful composition and lighting in this one.

I agree, Jim.

We launched into identifying the bird and didn't take the time to stop and comment on the quality of the image, which I agree is very high. The tone across the image is pleasant on the eye and transports our brain into a rural environment.

Like you I do like to see context; i.e. what is around the subject - something that 'places it'.

[Lady Lark]

If you would like I can ask my ornithology professor what species it is. Also lovely picture.