[EBB Sightings] "Paula and Kevin L."'s request for sparrow ID help

 <6.1.0.6.0.20060303211456.019ff758 at mail.earthlink.net>

EBBers,

Thank you so much for all the helpful responses!  We're very grateful.

So far the majority of replies (most private) have been for
Clay-colored, with two for Brewer's and one for Chipping.

Somehow (most likely caused by my clumsy fingers!) gmail sent my
original post before I was completely done typing -- I intended to add
that my wife and I were thinking most likely it was either a Brewer's
or a Clay-colored, but kept going round and round between the two. 
We've read the relevant chapter on the Spizella sparrows in Kaufmann's
_Advanced Birding_ and both (photographic and illustrated) Beadle and
Rising sparrow guides -- but really wanted some more experienced
opinions to help break our deadlock.  (We've only been birding since
Nov. 2004, so we tend to distrust ourselves somewhat and thus are
rather "conservative" in making IDs for birds that aren't "supposed"
to be in the area this time of year.)

As for location: we live in northeastern Richmond -- on the
Richmond-Pinole border.  Just a couple blocks west of Wildcat Canyon
Park actually.  The pictures were taken just this afternoon, so the
bird is definitely still around.  We see it at irregular times in the
yard -- about two or three times a week since roughly mid-January --
usually in a mixed flock of sparrows.  Not sure where else the flock
frequents, but they make the rounds to our feeder daily, though the
Clay-colored is not always present.  The recent arrival of a immature
sharp-shinned hawk has made them a tad more wary than they were -- two
house sparrows taken and consumed within view of our back door this
week already!  (Just wish we could have witnessed the take itself!)

Best,

Kevin L.



On 3/3/06, Laura Look  wrote:
> At 09:01 PM 3/3/2006, Dave Quady  wrote:
>  > Other birders: any other opinions on the bird's identity?
> Sure looks like a Clay-Colored Sparrow to me.  Sweet little bird.
>  > PS: Paula and Kevin, where do you live?  Are you still seeing the bird?
> Ditto.  And might it be visible from anywhere publicly accessible?
> Good birding,
> --
> Laura Look
> Pinole, CA

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Paula and Kevin L.
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