[EBB Sightings] ID help please (Spotted Towhee)

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Greetings Brian et al,
 
I agree with Steve Glover on the I.D. of your Sibley RP bird as Spotted  
Towhee - it is a very good representation of what appears to be a  male.  The 
female is dimorphic,  instead of the dark, blackish-olive upperparts,  having a 
more  brownish tone throughout, especially noticed on the head. She is about  5% 
smaller. There are several races of this species, some much more  gray-brown, 
or with less white on the tail; from offshore Calif. Islands east  and north 
to British Columbia and Saskatchewan, south to Guatemala - not to  mention the 
Eastern Towhee, Robert Hole reminded us, as formerly merged with  this as 
Rufous-sided Towhee (found east from Newfoundland to South Florida -  very little 
dorsal white).  The immature is more like a female but, along  with a browner 
color throughout, has distinctive darker (dusky) streaks on the  breast; 
which should be gone by winter. If you had a pair (most likely you  did), they 
probably traveled together.  I don't see adult males tolerant  (of one another) 
enough to associate for any extensive  time. 
 
Happy birding and photoing,
Phil Gordon
Hayward, ALA Co.
 
In a message dated 2/5/2006 9:46:25 PM Pacific Standard Time,  
deriv1 at yahoo.com writes:

I can't  seem to nail this one in Sibley.  I found a
pair of these two birds (I  cannot recall dimorphism
but I could be wrong) at Sunol Regional  Wilderness
last weekend, just past the footbridge as you walk in
toward  the trails from the picnic and parking areas. 
They were about 50 yards to  the right of the
footbridge, left side of the trail.  Pretty lousy  shot
with all the branches... just want an ID for my  own
edification.

http://www.pbase.com/image/55759096

Thanks  for any help.

Brian Zeiler
Dublin, CA


 

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mention the Eastern Towhee, Robert Hole reminded us, as formerly merged with=
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deriv1 at yahoo.com writes:
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  seem to nail this one in Sibley.  I found a
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  cannot recall dimorphism
but I could be wrong) at Sunol Regional=20
  Wilderness
last weekend, just past the footbridge as you walk in
tow=
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  the trails from the picnic and parking areas. 
They were about 50 yards=
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  the right of the
footbridge, left side of the trail.  Pretty lousy=
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with all the branches... just want an ID for my=20
  own
edification.

http://www.pbase.com/image/55759096

Than=
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  for any help.

Brian Zeiler
Dublin, CA

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