Bird ID

[Don Strickland]

Looks like a Savannah Sparrow except for the dark breast. A flock of them were on the feeder and out in the yard where I threw some grain. Anyone know what it is?

[Matt F.]

Wow Don, that is a tricky one.
My guess is, that's a Song Sparrow.
I think you happened to catch one that is a bit darker than normal.
Check out this page:
http://blog.audubonguides.com/tag/songbirds/
The 8th photo down on the page shows an extra dark one.

[Louise Chambers]

My first thought was female red-winged blackbird. If you go to Cornell and look at photo 9 of the females, that's a good comparison. And the fact that you're seeing a flock of them, rather than a few individuals.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red- ... ackbird/id

[Don]

It is a female red-wing blackbird.

[Don Strickland]

Thanks folks. Female Red Wing Blackbird.

[Matt F.]

Whoa.......I was waaaaaaaay off......

[Louise Chambers]

female red-wings fool lots of people, I think - their appearance can vary quite a bit. and we're so used to the flashy males to begin with

[DornCounty]

if it's a red wing it should be closer to martin size than sparrow.

[Don Strickland]

Yes, it was larger than a sparrow. About the size of a red wing black bird...lol :grin: