Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Juvenile Female Red-Winged Blackbird?

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    2,414
    Threads
    222
    Thank You Posts

    Default Juvenile Female Red-Winged Blackbird?

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    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.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    26,266
    Threads
    3,976
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    2,414
    Threads
    222
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Thanks Daniel. Here's one more pic for reference if it helps anyone.

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Green Lane, PA
    Posts
    744
    Threads
    42
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    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.

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    2,414
    Threads
    222
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Ok, Paul, thanks so much for your help.

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    6,588
    Threads
    643
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Cute little guy. I have found young sparrows very confusing in the past.

  7. #7
    Dave Irons
    Guest

    Default

    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.

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    2,414
    Threads
    222
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Wonderful to learn about aging by means of the yellow gape flange, thanks so much DAve.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics