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

I think part of the controversy is color shift from the photo itself. Note that the swallow' chin appears bright red, not rusty as is typical of Cliff Swallows. The house sparrow would have a similar color shift which would increase the yellow.

>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
>http://www.fieldguides.com/home.htm