Need Help Once Again...

[Derrick Eidam]

Hi everyone. I was out hiking out near the Hudson River in New York when I came across this little one. Didn't seem to mind my presence, so I snapped a photo so that I could ID him when I got home. Looks like a juvenile to me, possibly a Song Sparrow, but my guide book doesn't have a lot of juvi photos & i'm not 100% sure. Photo was taken at the Vanderbilt Mansion grounds in Hyde Park, New York.

[Richard Stern]

Hi,

That's a tough one - All the Melospiza sparrows (Song, Swamp and Lincoln's) have very similar-looking juveniles. However the things that strike me about this bird are the clear-cut gray nape, the prominent eye stripe that extends forward onto the lores, and also the very weak malar stripe- which lead me to think it is probably a juvenile Chipping Sparrow. These can have pretty streaky underparts, and everything else fits. Interesting to hear others' views.

Richard

[Jim Buescher]

I also think juvinile Chipping Sparrow. The long notched tail rules out a Song Sparrow.

[Ilija Dukovski]

I also think juvinile Chipping Sparrow. The long notched tail rules out a Song Sparrow.

Great point. You've got it right.