Documentation of
White-throated Sparrow
2011-224
Observer Information
Reporter:
Bill And Suzanne Wuerthele
745 Glencoe St.,
DENVER,
CO 80220-5215
E-mail:
wuerthel@ecentral.com
Other Observers:
Suzanne Wuerthele; Yes, I am the original finder. The bird is in my backyard
Species, Date, Time and Location Information
Species:
White-throated Sparrow
First Date/Time:
11/2/2011
Last Date/Time:
Duration (total time in view):
multiple observations each about two to three minutes long
County:
Denver
Specific Location:
745 Glencoe St
Denver, CO 80220
Number:
1
Age:
Unknown
Sex:
Unknown
Plumage:
Other/Unknown
Habitat
Bird is in our backyard. Yard has several large trees (crabapple; linden; locust); smaller trees (buckthorn; plum; chokecherry; serviceberry); and shrubs (mountain spray; viburnum; boulder raspberry; golden current; woods rose).
Viewing Conditions
Optics:
Bausch and Lomb Elite 8x42 binoculars
Distance:
20 - 25 feet; measured with a tape after the fact
Light:
On November 2nd, the sky was overcast much of the day, but the light was good
Description of the Bird
Fairly large sparrow similar in size to House Sparrows and a White-crowned Sparrow feeding with it (see attached 3 photographs - taken at a distance through a window)
Appears to be a first winter bird, with slightly streaked, gray breast
Key - sharply delineated white throat against the slightly streaked gray breast
Bill is gray, head has a pale, narrow median crown-stripe, rump is un-streaked and tail is notched (no sign of yellow lores)
Behaviors: Feeding on scattered seed on the ground with House Sparrows, House Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and one White-crowned Sparrow. When not feeding spends time in a Woods Rose tangle.
Call: not vocal
Plumage: first winter
Similar Species Discussion
Separated from White-crowned Sparrow by gray bill (v. yellowish/pinkish bill for White-crowned), very narrow median crown stripe v. broader, tan median stripe of White-crowned, lack of a sharply delineated white throat, and a general scruffy look compared to the clean, upright look of the White-crowned
Separated from Swamp Sparrow by size, bill color and notched tail (v. rounded tail in Swamp Sparrow)
Separated from Song Sparrow by lack of strong breast and flank streaking and lack of wide, brown lateral throat stripes
Resources Used
The Sibley Guide to Birds; Sparrows of the United States and Canada (Beadle and Rising)
Previous Experience
moderate; I grew up in the East and have experience with White-throated Sparrows
Notes
Notes made AFTER observation
Materials Available
No files uploaded.
Date Documentation Submitted
1/6/2012 5:05:00 PM