Seward, Alaska
On February 15, I posted a
selection of photos of the birds at my active feeder. One was a WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW, a normal, winter Seward species.
Or so I thought!
That particular bird caught
the keen eye of Scott Shuette who forwarded the link to Steve Heinl in
Ketchikan for analysis. Steve is pretty certain it is a Puget Sound WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW instead of the more usual, northern, Gambel’s subspecies.
Steve reported that the Puget
Sound White-crowned Sparrows have been found increasingly in SE Alaska, nesting
in small numbers in Ketchikan and found as far as Sitka, Hoonah, and Juneau. He
was unaware of any other south-coastal records.
As most birders many not be
aware of this expanding Puget Sound/Pacific population, there may be more than we realize.
Thanks to Scott for the heads-up, and thanks to Steve for helping me recognize it.
Thanks to Scott for the heads-up, and thanks to Steve for helping me recognize it.
Look for these differences
between the Puget Sound and Gambel’s:
Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis vs Z. l.
gambelii
Overall, the Puget Sound bird
is more drab and browner.
The back view is especially
diagnostic.
Back stripes: plain blackish
or dark brown bordered by tan vs colorful, reddish-brown bordered by paler gray
or paler buff
Bill: lemon yellow, vs bright
orange-yellow
Flanks and sides of chest:
extensive brown wash vs clean gray
Head stripes: dull white vs
bright white
Sibley’s Guide to Birds
differentiates the two subgroups as Pacific including Puget Sound, and
Taiga/Interior West Group. The Gambel’s is part of the West Group/Western Taiga.
There is more information than you ever thought possible about the five species
at Sibley’s website:
Also check this “Monterey
Birds Migrant Puget Sound and Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrows” website by Don
Roberson:
The next time you see a
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, look again!
You may be extending the
Puget Sound subspecies range!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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