Would love to know for sure that this was a juve female RWBB. Taken a couple weeks ago at a local wetlands here in central New York.
Thanks very much in advance for any help.
Melissa, a RWB would be streaked all the way down the belly (not just the upper chest), and the buill would be longer and blackish. This is a sparrow, that I know for sure. Tough to judge which species 100%, but from the streaks on the chest, and overall markings on the face (especially dark line behind the eye) I'd tentatively label this one as a young Savannah Sparrow. Hopefully someone will chime in with more positive ID.
I'd also call this a Savannah Sparrow. In addition to the marks that Daniel pointed out, the streaking is fine, the bill is long and pointed (for a sparrow, anyway), the top of the head looks slightly crested, and it shows a pale stripe going at least partially up the middle of the head. All of these are good for Savannah.
Clearly a sparrow and I would agree that it is a Savannah. It does not show the crisp head pattern like an adult Savannah because it is a juvenile. In the second image where the head is profiled and the bill is closed, you can see the tell-tale yellow gape flange that allows one to age the bird.
Dave Irons
Last edited by James Shadle; 08-19-2011 at 07:16 PM.