Possible reed bunting and an unknown

I think your unknown bird could be a tree sparrow.

Hi,

the upper bird is a  reed bunting as you thought.  It's difficult to sex it on this view as the head is obscured and fuzzy .

The lower one appears to be  a late  juvenile  House sparrow- Tree sparrow would show a cheek blotch :)

S

Hi Gill

I think that your picture one is of a Male House Sparrow, and the second picture of a Juv House Sparrow.

The reason for my answer is that Reed buntings are more likely to want to be in Reed Beds.  Your pictures show the birds in Broadleaf Woodland.  The colouration of the first picture goes with a Male House Sparrow.

Both pictures show a Woodland backdrop. and that is what House Sparrows prefer, and that is the type of environment they exist in first and foremost.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

seymouraves said:

 

Hi,

 

the upper bird is a  reed bunting as you thought.  It's difficult to sex it on this view as the head is obscured and fuzzy .

The lower one appears to be  a late  juvenile  House sparrow- Tree sparrow would show a cheek blotch :)

 

S

Hi,

Sorry guys but the  upper picture is a reed bunting for the following reasons-

1- notched pattern on the scapulars- present in reed bunting, not on House sparrow

2- warm rufous rump- male house sparrow has a grey rump

3- Rufous streaks on the flanks - NEVER present on House sparrow

4- The greater coverts are concolourous and show no pale tips

5- The median coverts are concolourous with the rest of the wing- on House sparrow they would be broadly fringed white.

6- The cheek and ear coverts are dark, house sparrow has pale cheeks in all plumages

7- The bird shows pure white under tail coverts- House sparrow normally shows smudgy dark centres

As far as  habitat goes- Reed buntings occur in edge habitat around reed beds and fields especially in winter when they also  regularly visit garden feeding stations.

:)

S

Hi GillP It would be of great help if you could remove some of the shadowing, especially from picture one, but from two also. This may help to resolve any debate. If you have an editing suite, when shadow removed increase colour slightly. It may help you to see for yourself!!

John :-)

Hi guys- I have posted a house sparrow in a similar pose as the reed bunting in my photo gallery

:))

enjoy

S

Hi GillP,

The bird in your first picture is definately a Reed Bunting, I have used my own editing suite on your photo's to try and enhance the colours.

Above photo is a Reed Bunting.

As for your second photo the positioning of the birds head and body make it somewhat difficult to give an definate  identification!

Again I have altered this picture to try and get the colours of the bird.        

House Sparrow - Tree Sparrow ????? Juv Or Adult ??????

I have tried various sites for pictures to compare what some of the other members have suggested it is and also for what I think it is.

If the head appears to be chestnut brown then I would be more inclined to go with a Tree Sparrow, I have also done searches for various species and sub species of Finches. I will continue with some other species that it could possibly be. If I can find a picture to compare with yours I will post my result.

Buzzard

Hi,

juvenile tree sparrow shows a really dusky cheek compared with this bird and the cap here is not rufous enough IMHO-

However- the kicker is- if it was a Tree sparrow you would be able to see the white nape collar :)

For really great  tree sparrow juv pics put      'juvenile tree sparrow ' into flickr- :)

S

I think 1 is a reed bunting and 2 is a female house sparrow

I'd agree with reed bunting too, probably female because the head stripes are brown rather than black. They're not always confined to reed beds. We've had up to 5 in our garden at once. Second one is most likely a young or female sparrow as others have said.