Seward, Alaska
This morning in the usual predawn twilight while I stood
watching my neighbor’s heated hummingbird feeder, a large, dark raptor stroked
through the yard and landed in the dark heart of a spruce tree. After a moment
or two, I could see a dark blur fly away; a bird mystery that may or may not be
resolved.
With the 13 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 30+ ROBINS, WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS, and PINE GROSBEAKS, plus numerous PIGEONS in this neighborhood,
it’s no surprise that a raptor would drop in to dinner. I hope it is refound in
time for the Christmas Bird Count on December 17. Count Week starts tomorrow!
My target species today was the RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. I
waited for the lazy sun to rise and illuminate my world, then drove to the
site. At first, all I found was a gorgeous orange VARIED THRUSH sitting quietly
in a Mayday tree in the shade. I traced a loud, steady chipping to a nearby
male OREGON JUNCO, another handsome bird. He hopped through the tangled tree
branches closely followed by a reddish sparrow. I took photos for later
reference.
Suddenly, the Sapsucker flew into the yard and pasted
himself to the tree trunk completely motionless, head tucked in. He looked cold
and none too chipper. Slowly, he seemed to warm up, and stuck his head up to
look around. Then he flew to the suet feeder and ate hungrily. I was so glad to
see he had a food source besides frozen sap!
The Varied Thrush, Oregon and Slate-colored Juncos gleaned
suet scraps from below while a DOWNY WOODPECKER fed at another suet feeder.
I left quietly to let the birds feed in peace, thrilled to
see that Sapsucker!
After poring over my various bird books and getting more and
more confused, I sent my mystery sparrow photos to the experts. It sorta looked
like a Song Sparrow, but was so much smaller, more reddish, and shorter tailed
than our usual chunky, dark Kenai Song Sparrows.
Thanks to Steve Heinl in SE who quickly ID-ed it as a Song
Sparrow similar to his SE species. Steve noted that it’s hard to tell which
subspecies with certainty as SE has two subspecies, merrilli and rufina. Luke agreed that it could be a merrilli or rufina. I never heard of either before this!
Many thanks to Luke DeCicco who provided the following
details:
“Although
you may be surprised, this is a Song Sparrow, but not the ones you are used to.
Although its bill is slightly longer than I'd like to see, this bird looks
consistent with the subspecies merrilli of mainland southeast AK. As you
noticed, these critters are smaller, more rufous, and less lanky in appearance
than the typical Song Sparrows of coastal south-central.
I
found one of these on Middleton Island in fall 2011, and there is a single
spring record from Tok, these being the only extralimital records of this
subspecies for AK, outside of the mainland southeast range.”
I
don’t feel too bad about not recognizing this Song Sparrow. According to
several websites, Song Sparrows have the greatest number of genetically
distinct populations of any bird in North America. https://www.prbo.org/calpif/htmldocs/species/riparian/song_sparrow.htm
And
this particular subspecies should not be in Seward. The normal range for
Merrill’s Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia merrilli, is southeastern
Alaska (Glacier Bay), central British Columbia to southwestern Alberta and
northwestern Montana; winters to central California, northern Mexico.
Here’s
a link to a nice article on the Kenai Song Sparrow with reference to Luke and
M.m.merrillii:
https://ornithologi.com/2016/09/02/a-southcentral-alaskan-song-sparrow-melospiza-melodia-kenaiensis/
There
is always more to learn about birds, including our usual backyard birds. That is
just another reason why birding is an irresistible, life-long passion.
Happy
Birding!
Carol
Griswold
Seward
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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