SONG SPARROW

6 1/4"

FIELD IDENTIFICATION: The Song Sparrow is a winter resident of Wise County.  It has bold streaking on the breast and flanks (often clumping together into a spot on the breast), dark brown lateral throat stripe, whitish malar, gray auriculars and supercilium, dark eye-stripe, and dark crown stripes.  The tail is rounded.

The Lincoln's Sparrow has finer streaking on the breast and flanks (with a buffy background), and yellowish malar (submoustachial stripe).  The Savannah Sparrow has a slightly smaller bill, a notched tail, and slightly different facial pattern.

Field I.D. by Claire Curry

Photos by M. Curry at the Heard Museum Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas on March 31, 2001