Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 08:03:29 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Rick Sussman Subject: Re: Fw: DC Area, 12/17/02 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 12/18/2002 12:37:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, aripley@NESTBOX.COM writes: > Okay, I have to confess there has been some controversy over the ID of > the Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. As I mentioned in my original > note, we had hoped pretty much decided) that the bird we were looking > at was a Nelson's. However, I got another opinion and the Nelson's ID > was nixed. Since then four more people have looked at the photos and > all reports so far favor Nelson's. So, I have put two photos on my > website so everyone can look at it and hopefully we can nail the ID > down. The two photos are dark but I think show pretty good detail. > > http://nestbox.com.rare3.htm. > > All opinions appreciated. > Arlene, Nice photos! Though I have very little experience with either species, I will add my $.02, for what it's worth. I would lean towards Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. The bill looks rather large in the lower photo, the streaking looks rather heavy, though there are no streaks at the back of the supercillium as there should be in this species. Nelson's should have finer streaking on the breast, but this birds look sort of heavy and noodle-like. Rick Sussman Ashton,MD warblerick@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================