Help with Bird ID

I just turned on the sprinkler in the garden, and have about 50 of these sparrows having a bath.

Mike

[Randy_Vestal]

Originally Posted by DavidRamey

I know nothing of a chaffinch, I am going to assume that it is some form of Finch. Finches feed in trees and brush. That is why they are attracted to hanging bird feeders so well. Sparrows feed on the ground. The bird in my photos is feeding on the ground. US Fish & Wildlife believes it may be a hybrid of a Slate-colored Junco and a White-crowned Sparrow. We are still trying to get a positive ID on this bird.

A chaffinch is indeed a finch and is a very common European bird, but rare in North America. Weather this is a chaffinch or not, it appears to me to be in the finch family based upon the markings on the back and tail. (Another alternative is that it could be a type of bunting, which also have similar markings.)

As for the contention that finches feed in trees and brush and sparrows feed on the ground, I think this is a overly broad generalization. We have several species of finches that come to our feeders daily but they are equally happy feeding on the ground and in bushes. Likewise, we have several species of sparrows that go to the hanging feeders on a regular basis.

In any case, good luck on your identification.

[John_Teti]

From a birder friend of mine:

"I was not sure but showed the pictures to Jean and her first thought was it was a Junco. Juncos are ground feeders where for the most part finches are not. She believes that it is a slate colored junco (immature). Many times this time of year you can be fooled by what you see because the immature birds still don't look like the adults or look more like the females in color and markings. I would go by Jean's call on this one".

Hope this helps,
John

[Bob_Harrington]

My wife, who at one point was part of Cornell University Dept of Ornithology's "Project Feeder Watch" says it is an immature female Junco. The beak is the wrong shape for a sparrow.
Bob H.

[mpontiff]

It's definitely got some Dark-eyed Junco in it and I would suspect that it's not a hybrid.. the build and body look good but it isn't a textbook race.

Matt