[Tweeters] North Jetty Spizzella looks quite fine for a Chipping Sparrow to me!

[Dennis Paulson]

I would say the distinctly reddish crown stripes and dark eyeline continued in front of the eye to me points to it being a Chipping Sparrow. In Clay-colored the lores are pale or just slightly darkened, not with the fairly distinct dark line that seems to characterize Chipping.

I agree with Mike that either species would be unusual at that date and locality.

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> On Oct 15, 2021, at 5:35 PM, Ryan Justice <blackburnian151 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 

> Looks like a Chipping to me. 

> 

> Ryan 

> 

> Sent from my iPhone

> 

>> On Oct 15, 2021, at 8:28 PM, Mike Patterson <celata at pacifier.com> wrote:

>> 

>> As you say, fall Spizellas are difficult and, given that Chipping

>> Sparrow is a resident and Clay-colored is vagrant, it is understandable

>> that one my to default to the more expected species, except that

>> Clay-colored Sparrow is actually less rare than Chipping along the

>> Pacific Coast this time of year...

>> 

>> In this case the buffy breast, the strong mustachial mark and

>> the well defined crown stripe and contrast between the very gray

>> nape and the generally buffy tones over say this is a slam dunk

>> Clay-colored Sparrow.

>> 

>> 

>> -- 

>> Mike Patterson

>> Astoria, OR

>> I don't know...

>> http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=3924

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