RE: [cobirds] Re: Sparrow ID El Paso county (pictures)

Nice photos, Bill, of a nice bird.  Just to make it clear and save the sterling Denver Audubon Master Birder Class of 2015 going to the trouble of a mass response, Lark Buntings ARE, indeed, sparrows.  At least I think so, unless the AOU just last night lumped them with Thick-billed Murre.  Colorado is the only state to honor a sparrow with the status of "Official State Bird".  My guess would be this is not because our legislature is particularly ornithologically enlightened but rather enamored of the printing cost-savings that might accrue from having a black and white mascot.

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

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Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2015 08:56:33 -0600
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: Sparrow ID El Paso county (pictures)
From: jroller9@gmail.com
To: bill_kosar@msn.com
CC: cobirds@googlegroups.com

This sparrow "look-alike" looks like a Lark Bunting.

The big white wing patch is a strong clue, and the bill is larger than most other sparrows.

Sibley has a cool list of birds that look like sparrows,

but are not. (page 492 of the first edition).

I have recently mis-identified 9 of the last 7 bird photos I looked at, so let's wait 

for another opinion.

Joe Roller, 

Denver

On Tue, Sep 8, 2015 at 8:02 AM, kickback <bill_kosar@msn.com> wrote:

Thanks to all for the comments explaining that this bird is a female lark bunting!

Bill

On Monday, September 7, 2015 at 11:53:37 PM UTC-6, kickback wrote:

I think this is a Savannah sparrow but I am not very sure. Seen near Drennan road by the airport

http://www.avoapples.com/birds/_MG_7041_cr.jpg

http://www.avoapples.com/birds/_MG_7053_cr.jpg

Please send me your comments.

Thanks

Bill

El Paso county, Colorado Springs

bill_kosar@msn.com

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