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

["mary keitelman" <[[email protected]]>]

Good point Ruth.  I thought of that, and thought I had checked, but not well 
enough, clearly.

Thanks again Chuq for posting this -- it's fun to try these mystery birds 
once in a while!

Mary Keitelman


>From: Ruth Troetscher <[[email protected]]>
>To: "Alvaro Jaramillo" <[[email protected]]>, "'mary keitelman'" 
><[[email protected]]>, <[[email protected]]>, <[[email protected]]>, 
><[[email protected]]>
>Subject: Re: [SBB] So... what is this? [Beating a Dead Horse] not dead yet
>Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 07:29:52 -0700
>
>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.
>
>Ruth Troetschler
>
>At 11:18 PM -0700 5/5/06, Alvaro Jaramillo wrote:
>>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
>>
>>



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