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SPARROWS
Actually it should be "sparrows, relatives, and unrelated
things that might be considered sparrowish". Generally
LBJ's - little brown jobs - but not all are little. Though
many are variations of browns, blacks, rufous and buff. Somewhat
confusing at first, a myriad of beautiful intricate patterns
especially on their heads, become evident with close inspection.
Like warblers, each occupies a slightly different niche,
and exploits it differently. Though in winter when our local
diversity is at peak, several types may be found in a flock together.
Olive Sparrow is an outlier with green tones
in wing and tail, a south Texas specialty at
at the northern limit of its range here.
Field Sparrow - note thin white eye-ring
Chipping Sparrows, mostly first winter immatures
Chipping Sparrow in alternate (breeding) plumage
Clay-colored Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow - common here, often
mistaken for the rarer here Song Sparrow.
Note buff wash on sides and breast.
Cassin's Sparrow has a fancy flight song,
skylarking, where there is scattered brush
amognst lots of taller grasses.
Cassin's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow, clearly with legs made
for holding two seperate grass stems.
Vesper Sparrow - a winter visitor, note
white sides to tail and eye-ring for ID.
Lark Sparrow is widespread, and a beauty
Note white corners to tail in flight.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow nests on rocky slopes,
and has a rufous crown you can't see here.
Black-throated Sparrow
Of course Towhees (below) aren't sparrows, but are very like "giant" sparrows.
Spotted Towhee
Canyon Towhee
Not a sparrow but often with them in winter
Lark Bunting
(Look at the size of that bill!)
Lark Bunting, female or immature
Note the big white patch on the wing
Slate-colored Junco is a winter visitor
with white outer tail feathers.
Blue Grosbeak, female - note bill size
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