Clay-colored Sparrow

[Geoffrey Montagu]

We found this beautiful Clay-colored Sparrow in a local preserve the other day. A lifer for me. He's rare in these parts, Central NJ. He's found in the scrublands of the northern prairie and Great Plains. They often flock with other species, also up into Canada and south to Mexico. They have a unique buzzy song. C&C welcome.

D500, Nikon 500mm f4/G + 1.4 TC, 1/1250s, f 7.1, ISO 500, Gitzo, Wimberley Gimbal head,


Geoffrey




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[Tim Foltz]

Geoffrey, nice details and environment, wish you had a better HA.

-Tim

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Geoffrey, nice details and environment, wish you had a better HA.

-Tim

Thanks Tim. I do have what I thought was a decent image with the head in profile, but thought this angle showed the distinct head feathers better.

Geoffrey




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[Daniel Cadieux]

A good species, rather uncommon up here too but at the very north-eastern edge of their range. I love their song too! Neat cedar setting, I just wish the large oof branch touching the face and chest was not present. I do like the rest of the background, including the branches that you kept in LRC. I realize the head patterns are pretty cool, but artistically I too would have preferred a better head angle - this would probably also have prevented the shadow on the chin.

[Arthur Morris]

That is a really good bird for NJ in the spring. I never knew they had such a long tail. You did well in the harsh light ...

with love, artie

[Isaac Grant]

I agree with Arthur. Very nice considering the full sun. I like the setting and the pose as well. Agree the head angle is not ideal but it still works. Interestingly I was recently in Colorado and had Chipping Sparrow, Clay-colored and Brewer's Sparrow all on the same fence line. You should see the tail on Brewer's Sparrow. Actually all of the spizellas have crazy long tails.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Thanks everyone.

Geoffrey




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