Re: [SBB] So... what is this? [Beating a Dead Horse] not dead yet

["Alvaro Jaramillo" <[[email protected]]>]

All

  I think that Bill was saying that it is a House Sparrow, not an American
Goldfinch. It certainly looks fine for a female House Sparrow to me, the
only issue is that it shows yellow on the face. This may be a plumage
anomaly, or maybe even pollen. For a bit I wondered about a female Red
Bishop, but that can be eliminated by the lack of streaking on breast. The
bill shape, other than being finch-shaped is not like an American Goldfinch.
The Goldfinch has a very pointed and triangular bill, it does not bulge out
like on this bird. That bulgy finch-shaped bill is classic for House
Sparrow. American Goldfinches can sure look variable due to their molt, but
that occurs earlier in the season, by now males are looking like breeding
males and not in intermediate plumages. I think that this bird is a House
Sparrow, as Bill notes, it just shows some funny yellow color on the face
and that is what is throwing people. If you saw it in black and white, it
would likely look more like a House Sparrow!

Good birding

Al

Alvaro Jaramillo
[[email protected]]
Half Moon Bay, CA

Field Guides - Birding Tours Worldwide
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: [[email protected]] [mailto:south-bay-birds-
> [[email protected]]] On Behalf Of mary keitelman
> Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 10:09 PM
> To: [[email protected]]; [[email protected]]; south-bay-
> [[email protected]]
> Subject: Re: [SBB] So... what is this? [Beating a Dead Horse] not dead yet
> 
> hi Bill,
> 
> I agree, but the features of the bird point to a male -- changing plumage-
> -
> American Goldfinch in my opinion.  The beak shape an dcoloration, the
> plumage coloration point to an American Goldfinch-- of some flavor.
> 
> What a great shot! who would have expected this??
> 
> Mary Keitelman
> 
> >From: Bill Bousman <[[email protected]]>
> >To: Chuq Von Rospach <[[email protected]]>,SBB birds
> ><[[email protected]]>
> >Subject: Re: [SBB] So... what is this? [Beating a Dead Horse]
> >Date: Fri, 05 May 2006 16:05:36 -0700
> >
> >Folks:
> >
> >House Sparrows are common hanger-ons at Cliff Swallow colonies and
> >frequently usurp their nests.  I doubt that it has a large affect as I
> >suspect the Cliff Swallows build a new nest and the usurper may keep
> other
> >sparrows away.  There are quite a few other species that will use
> completed
> >Cliff Swallow nests, including House Finches--see the Birds of North
> >America account.  Others use abandoned nests as roosts.  I'm not aware of
> >any evidence that any of the goldfinches ever occupy such sites or
> cavities
> >of any kind.
> >
> >Bill
> >
> >At 08:16 AM 5/5/06, Chuq Von Rospach wrote:
> > > >> Laurie took this shot at shoreline, at the pumping station. The
> > > >> swallow she expected to find. Her neighbor?
> > > >>
> > > >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/lsefton/138071102/in/photostream/
> > >
> > >Just to follow up on this --
> > >
> > >Responses leaned towards one of two answers:
> > >
> > >Female house finch, with some pollen.
> > >
> > >A goldfinch ( possibly a lesser, bob reiling thought a young male
> > >american).
> > >
> > >Most people who responded felt it was a sparrow, and a sparrow
> > >"borrowing" a swallow's nest is expected behavior, I'm going to lean
> > >in that direction, although to be honest, comparing it to the
> > >pictures in Sibley's the beak makes me lean towards the goldfinch. It
> > >could be either from those shots.
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >Chuq Von Rospach, Architech
> > >[[email protected]] -- http://chuqui.typepad.com/
> > >
> > >Very funny, Scotty. Now beam my clothes down here, will you?
> > >
> > >
> > >
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