Thank you for your fast reactions. No need for consolation, Tom. Angus, you're right, the light was less than perfect. The bird is clearly a Seaside Sparrow, and I identified it as such, but the ochre on the side of the neck, behind the eye stripe, is a feature that does not show on any representation of the bird I have had access to (although similar to a juvenile's plumage), and the belly is light.
Beadle and Rising mention on page 171 of their Sparrows of the United States and Canada from 2002 an individual collected in Connecticut in what seems like an isolated event. Eric Salzman writing about the Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow in Bull's Birds of New York State, Levine (ed.) 1998, 519, reports that "Although it has hybridized with the Seaside Sparrow, the frequency of hybridization is considered to be low (Grenlaw and Rising, 1994), and there are not recent records from NY. The two species commonly inhabit the same marshes on LI, often nesting within a few meters of each other (pers. obs.)" I do not believe it is a frequent event, but it does happen. In any case I am eager to learn more about the latest information on the subject, and I thought today's sighting was a great excuse. Any further comment would be welcome. Thank you. Juan Salas Brooklyn, NY On Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 6:15 PM, Angus Wilson <oceanwander...@gmail.com> wrote: > Maybe I'm missing something but could you perhaps explain why you think > this not a pure Seaside Sparrow? > > I am not noticing any inconsistencies, although to be fair it's difficult > to evaluate a single photo of a partially obscured bird that's facing > away.... > > As a side note, I am not aware of evidence for frequent hybridization > between Seaside and Saltmarsh. However, there is extensive hybridization > between Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows in the 130 mile zone of overlap > along the New England coastline from Plum Island in northern Massachusetts > to southern Maine. > > Angus Wilson > New York City, NY > > On Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Juan Salas <juansalasprieto1...@gmail.com > > wrote: > >> I apologize for the cross-posting. >> I have photographed a Seaside Sparrow this morning at the Salt Marsh >> Nature Center in Marine Park, Brooklyn that seems to have some features >> that match Saltmarsh Sparrow. I have read that these two species hybridize >> regularly. >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/23604521@N00/34194070461/in/da >> tetaken-public/ >> What would be your opinion about this bird? >> Thank you, >> Juan Salas >> -- >> *NYSbirds-L List Info:* >> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> >> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >> *Archives:* >> The Mail Archive >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> >> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> >> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> >> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* >> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* >> -- >> > > > > -- > Angus Wilson > New York City & The Springs, NY, USA > http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ > -- > *NYSbirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01> > *Please submit your observations to **eBird* > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* > -- > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
