tags: Nelson's Sharp-Tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Nelson's Sharp-Tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni, photographed while demonstrating its unusual perching technique at Crab Street, Surfside, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 18 November 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/800s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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Well, I think I've got it narrowed down to one of three Ammodramus sparrows: Le Conte's, Henslow's, or Nelson's Sharp-tailed. But I'm having a really tough time choosing one of those three.
I'm going to go with Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. The beak looks a bit too big to me for Le Conte's, while I'm not seeing the "white eye-ring" that Sibley notes for Henslow's.
No idea what bird, but that freaking gymnastic posture is impressive.. What flexible could be avian leg joints?
I think you're right on the Leconte's Sparrow or the Sharptailed Sparrow that is according to R.T.Peterson.
I don't know were Surfside,Texas is but its name indicates a coastal area which leads me to beieve that it's a Sharp Tail.