These two different specimens briefly stopped by my brush pile yesterday and today. Any thoughts on what species they might be as seen in fall plumage - possible Swainson's, Hermit or Veery?

Jonathan

Sunday


Today

Number 2 is, I believe, a Fox Sparrow. Number 1 be.......Hermit (juvenile)????

Boy Jonathan, Those thrush can be a pain to I.D. Check out the bill color and shape on the #2 bird, that rules out a thrush according to all my reference books.

Thanks, JM. I overlooked that one as a probable sparrow species.

Regards,

Jonathan

I'll post a modest bet on Gray Cheeked Thrush for the following reasons: the light eye ring is present but not sharply defined like Hermit nor buff like a swainsons. Also, no buff stripe emerging ahead of the bill as on Swainson's. And according to my field guide, Eastern Hermits appear to have a lighter bill.

Many Thrushes are hard to differentiate as breeding adults, and this is a juvenile, so who knows? Hermit, GC, and Swainson's are common summer breeders here and are easily heard but rarely seen. A welcome sound of late spring. I agree that # 2 is a Fox sparrow.

Not sure on first one, but second definitely Fox Sparrow, they are usually scratching soil vigorously looking for food. I call them natures little rototillers

The first is a hermit thrush. You can't overlook the red color to the primary wing tips and the tail. No other ID characteristics matter, especially in the fall.

The second is a fox sparrow

The fox sparrow is last years melting into a adult plumage
Nice pics

Neat looking birds

I'm adding to this post. I'm no birder but what do you think on these two different sparrows?

Male white crown and an English(house) sparrow male also

Good spotting there with the brown cap; Passer montanus
and that one that sings; Oh Canada..oh Canada as it notes,,,,, except for the eastern form that sing pea-body pea-body

sorry cohunt it is not a Passer domesticus
Then I see where the poster is from and they breed locally there.
right of Cardinal is a White throated sparrow adult

Beautiful Shots Jonathan!

North of--obviously NOT white crown, lots of give-aways but I was distracted because the white is so brilliant which is common for the white crown and not the white throat. Sure sucks getting OLD.

birds are feeding on venison tallow , ground feeding seeds, black sunflower seeds plus going nuts on bread, every species on bread.

Sparrow in the picture with the Cardinal looks like a Eurasian Tree Sparrow, brown cap with white ring all the way around neck.

Where's the Daisy when you need it. Just kidding. Sometimes I can't help myself...
Audubon woulda done it that way.

One of my favorite songs in the wild, a late afternoon serenade by a Wood Thrush deep in the bush.

Correct as noted by Northof50 above. They were restricted to the St. Louis area when I saw them there many years ago. The yellow above the eye makes the other one an obvious White-throated.

Jarhead

Yep, the one sparrow is an English Tree Sparrow, the other a White Throated Sparrow.