[EBB Sightings] Red-Rust phase sub-species of Fox Sparrow

[EBB Sightings] Red-Rust phase sub-species of Fox Sparrow

Richard Cimino
Mon Jan 17 22:01:03 PST 2005
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    Some open discussion regarding red phase Fox Sparrow.
    Includes Bob Battagin orginal posting.
    A good learning experience.
    Rich Cimino
    Pleasanton
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Les Chibana [mailto:les at birdnutz.com] 
    Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 8:42 AM
    To: Richard Cimino
    Subject: Re: Rich Cimino
    
    
    > Fox Sparrows are somewhat complicated. Rising has gone ahead and split
    
    > them into four groups, but there are problems preventing the AOU from 
    > proceeding, according to Jon Dunn. Rising has 3 subspecies for Red Fox
    
    > Sparrow: iliaca, the nominate for the eastern form; zaboria for the 
    > western form (breeds in AK); and he puts altivagans with this group, 
    > too (this is the problematic form). He comments that iliaca and 
    > zaboria cannot be separated in the field. So, I guess he would say 
    > that we don't know which ones, or if both, are seen in the Bay Area. I
    
    > don't know if this has been, or even can be, determined by banding 
    > evidence, yet. I haven't checked Pyle's guide (the bander's bible) to 
    > see if this is a "slam dunk" or a "more data needed" scenario.
    > The other "species" are Sooty, Slate-colored, and Thick-billed. The 
    > problem with placing altivagans in Red or Slate-colored is such that 
    > it screws up a lot of reasoning about why the splits are being 
    > proposed where they are. So, as I understand it, it's wiser to not 
    > split the species until evidence can be found that resolves these 
    > problems. This sounds vague, I know, because my understanding of the 
    > issue is vague.
    > I've seen Red (assumed zaboria), Sooty and Slate-colored in three 
    > trips to AK. Their songs seem significantly different, too.
    > At a booksigning, I asked David Sibley why he didn't use the
    > subspecific
    > names. He felt that it opened too many cans of worms and he wanted to
    > keep his guide accessible and more appealing to beginning birders. So,
    > he uses a term like "taiga" to refer to breeding habitat, instead.
    
    
    On Jan 17, 2005, at 7:44 AM, Richard Cimino wrote:
    
    > Very interesting Les good feed back I appricate the time you took. 
    > Would you agree if I post this digalogue for other birders to read & 
    > comment ? I will let you know if I can make the Mare Is..
    > Rich Cimino
    > 
    > Subject: Re: [EBB Sightings] Red Form Fox Sparrow still present in 
    > Richmond
    > 
    >> .......
    >> Yes some what confusing the Red Fox Sparrow. I was studying my bird
    >> guides last night.
    >> I see that "The Sparrows of the United States and Canada" by James
    >> Rising indicates the sub species as "iliaca".
    >> The Sibley guide has it as a "taiga", which in the guide is the Nome
    >> species I have seen.
    >> Yet the "Rising Sparrow US Guide" drawing is Very similar to the
    >> Richmond bird.
    >> After study today in other guides these to I.D.'S are very different.
    >> What do you think?
    >> What is your opinion. This 2004 summer did you see this Red Sparrow
    >> while in Alaska?
    >>
    > ......................................................................
    > .
    >> .
    >> ...........
    >> Dave Bowden - Aquila2 what have you seen in Alaska during your 
    >> working the Tundra job?
    >>
    > ......................................................................
    > .
    >> .
    >>
    >>> This morning at 9:30 AM I re-located the Red Form Fox Sparrow on the
    
    >>> south side of Meeker Tidal trail in Richmond. The "iliaca"  is a 
    >>> handsome large sparrow. I first found the bird in a bare tree behind
    
    >>> a
    >>
    >>> public blue trash can. It later dropped to the shrub area and 
    >>> socialized with the Golden Crowns. I had plenty of viewing time 
    >>> close
    >>> up too. This is a state first for me. I have seen the bird in the 
    >>> spring in
    >> and
    >>> around Nome, Alaska.
    >>> It is actually a rusty color more so than red in the spring. The 
    >>> spring rust color against the snow banks along the Kougarok Rd 
    >>> outside of Nome makes this sparrow the showiest bird in that area. 
    >>> The Meeker Tidal Creek  is rich in Golden Crowns, Sooty Fox 
    >>> Sparrows,
    >>> Cal. Towhees, Hermit Thrushes, Yellow Rumps, Ruby Crown Kinglets, 
    >>> Shrikes, several  duck sp and herons, plenty of volume along the
    >> trail.
    >>> The Tidal Creek is an interesting area less than a half mile from HY
    
    >>> 580 off of Marine Bay. The Creek is managed by Cal Berkeley.
    >>> The creek it is posted for a fetal cat trapping effort beginning
    Jan.
    >>> 17th for Clipper rail protection.
    >>> As I walked the trail I counted 10 cats and small homes and feeding
    >>> bowls along the trail.
    >>> I followed the trail to the bay and a Clapper Rail seen upstream.
    >>> Rich Cimino
    >>> Pleasanton
    >>>
    >>> -----Original Message-----
    >>> From: sightings-admin at diabloaudubon.com 
    >>> [mailto:sightings-admin at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of Bob Battagin
    >>> Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 4:12 PM
    >>> To: Sightings at diabloaudubon.com
    >>> Subject: [EBB Sightings] Red (form) Fox Sparrow
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> EBBers,
    >>>
    >>> This morning along the paved trail
    >>> on the south side of Meeker Tidal
    >>> Creek in Richmond there was a RED
    >>> (form) FOX SPARROW feeding with
    >>> crowned sparrows and our usual
    >>> brown (aka sooty) form Fox Sparrows
    >>> in the trail side shrubs across
    >>> from carport # 176.  The breast and
    >>> flank streaking on this bird were
    >>> more a dark brown, not the red
    >>> color of the tail, rump, and
    >>> upperparts.  The strong rufous on
    >>> gray facial pattern, white throat,
    >>> and faint wing bars were apparent.
    >>> At low tide a CLAPPER RAIL was
    >>> about 100 yards upstream from where
    >>> Meeker Tidal Creek passes under the
    >>> Bay Shoreline Trail bridge.
    >>>
    >>> Good birding,
    >>>
    >>> Bob Battagin
    >>> Oakland, CA
    >>>
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    >>
    
    
    


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