ID Help

[Derrick Eidam]

So I had a great hike through Vassar Farm in Poughkeepsie, NY both Friday and Saturday and began going through my pictures today. While photographing some house finches and various sparrows, I saw this lone fellow on the fence near me. I got a single shot and it flew off. Upon review, the bird had a finch-like beak, but the coloring of a sparrow. The markings just don't seem to fit either a finch or sparrow from Sibley's guide.

I started looking at other birds in the guide and noticed my photo kind of resembled a female 1st winter Dickcissel, but I am unsure. The bold back streaks and beak are my only indicators, as I could not see the front of the bird clearly. Sibley's also shows this as a rare visitor to our area, so I'm excited at the possibility.



What does everyone think of this? Dickcissel or something else I overlooked?

[Dan Brown]

Hi Derrick. I think that you have a female House Sparrow here. The face pattern, back pattern and light upper wing bar fit.

[Chris Sloan]

Agreed, it's a female House Sparrow.