38-B-2022 Clay-colored Sparrow
STATUS
Accepted
DATE VOTING COMPLETED
1ST ROUND
7-0
HOW MANY OBSERVED?
1
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED
DATE REPORT PREPARED
REPORTER
Hilary Turner
OTHER OBSERVERS
None
LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION
Rails to Trails pathway south of Felt, Teton County, ID. Near Badger Creek. Exact Coords of bird's location here: 43.862650, -111.174060
HABITAT WHERE THE BIRD WAS OBSERVED
It is a place I like to bird during migration because it is a bit of a migrant trap amongst lots of agriculture, plus Badger Creek is there, but it runs dry this time of year. There is lots of aspen, cottonwood, hawthorn, serviceberry, chokecherry in the dense parts of the path, but the bird was observed on the edge of the brushy stuff, where it opens up into a more agricultural setting with lots of grass and sagebrush.
SIGHTING DURATION, CONDITIONS, and EQUIPMENT USED
As I walked down the path, a group of Spizella sparrows flushed into a nearby Hawthorn. The first one I got on was the CCSP. I got to within 10m of the bird. I used Vortex Viper 8x42 bins to view and a Canon Rebel EOS DSLR camera to photograph the bird. It was around 6:00PM when I saw the bird so the sun was still up, though setting to the west. I viewed the bird to the east, so the light was pretty good. It had been storming so there were some big thunderheads lingering, but overall I would say it was in the 60's, sunny, and calm. The duration of the sighting was probably 30 seconds, including some of that time spent getting photos.
DID YOU TAKE NOTES?
Yes, another day after the observation
DID YOU CONSULT A FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCE WORK?
Yes, another day after the observation
WHICH GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S): DID YOU CONSULT?
I got some photos of the bird so I didn't write any notes until later. When I looked at my photos, I saw there was some darkish coloration between the bill and the eye. This caused me to second guess myself, although I had been confident about the ID in the field. I looked extensively at September photos of CCSP, BRSP, and CHSP on the Macaulay Library the next day to investigate this darkish lore and its possible presence on CCSP/BRSP. I ended up finding 3-4 other photos labeled in the library as CCSP (I fully acknowledge these could be misIDs as it is a cit sci database) that matched the look of my bird - most notably this bird, which was banded in Colorado in September https://ebird.org/checklist/S27194792. I was unable to find any photos of CHSP or BRSP that matched my bird and I am confident that the bird I saw was indeed a Clay-colored Sparrow. I also sent the photos to quite a few friends who independently agreed that the bird was a CCSP.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD(s)
Spizella sparrow. Bright, bold, and contrasting facial pattern. Buffy supercilium, whitish malar and throat, complete pale eyering, gray collar, and dark cap with bright white median stripe in the crown were all observed in the field and are visible in my photos. The bird also had a bright, buffy breast. I never saw the bird in flight or from behind, so I could not assess rump color. My photos show some darkish coloration in the lore, but I do not believe that it is consistent with the loral marking of a CHSP which should match the color of the eyeline behind the eye.
BEHAVIOR OF THE BIRD(s)
Flushed from the ground with a group of CHSP, then perched in a hawthorn. Did not respond to pishing or playback. Once it moved farther back in the tree, I never saw it again.
HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?
Once again, I immediately knew that the bird was a CCSP from the second I saw it through my binoculars. I think I even said out loud "Oh, another one!" Despite identifying the bird based on its overall appearance immediately, I searched for the cues that would eliminate BRSP and CHSP and clinch the ID for me. These features included, a paler lore than would be expected for CHSP (this was easier observed in the field), a complete, rather than broken, eyering (again to eliminate CHSP), strong and contrasting facial markings (including buffy supercilium and bright whitish malar and throat), a bright whitish median stripe in the crown (to eliminate BRSP), and mostly unstreaked gray collar (to eliminate BRSP). All of these markings were observed in the field and are visible in my photos.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES? WHAT WERE THEY?
See above.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS (AND SIMILAR) SPECIES?
Very familiar with all three Spizella sparrows expected in this area (CHSP, BRSP, and CCSP). I've probably seen thousands of BRSP and CHSP in my lifetime, including many this year during fall mig, and banded many of both species in Wyoming. I have seen many CCSP in Montana and banded one this summer in Helena. I saw another CCSP about a week ago in Teton Co., ID at a different location. I am fairly confident these were two different birds.
DESCRIBE YOUR GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE
Birding since childhood, probably advanced by now.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (If any)
Got better photos this time! Here is my eBird report: https://ebird.org/checklist/S118866783
WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED FROM THIS SIGHTING?
Photo
SUPPORTING IMAGES
FIRST ROUND VOTING:
Jon Isacoff
Accept
Photos indicate Clay-colored Sparrow
Darren Clark
Accept
Photographs are diagnostic.
Dave Trochlell
Accept
I'm convinced that this was a Clay-colored Sparrow.
Steve Butterworth
Accept
Well written report and photographs support the identification of a Clay-colored Sparrow.
Carl Lundblad
Accept
Excellent documentation including diagnostic photos, excellent written details, and thorough discussion.
Doug Ward
Accept
Observer fairly diligently compared to the other expected Sipizella sparrows noting most of the key separating field marks (only missed rump coloration which was noted). Excellent report with supporting photographs.
Photos and report support identification of Clay-colored Sparrow.