id help please ... Prospect Ponds, Larimer

[ronbco]

can't quite find a match...

group of 4 in trees between 1st pond and coral

plump sparrow with buff breast, uniform brown wings and striking head pattern

the most striking feature was the black mustache/throat stripes like a lark sparrow, also had small central dark spot on breast

however i believe there was a yellow wash on the stripe above the eye and the center head stripe I think was rufous.

I've also considered Clay-colored but ... black stripes coming down the throat?

Savannah are too colorful on wings

Lincolns are too yellow

Vesper pattern not striking enough

My consolation prize for this hard one was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak right at the sign for the Learning Center where a memorial bridge is, high in a cottonwood

Ron Bolton

Larimer County

[Steven Rash]

The one possibility that comes to mind is Baird's Sparrow. You may have spotted one on its way over to Soapstone where they are known to breed. If that is indeed it, you saved yourself a hellish walk in unsheltered conditions come summertime. 

One thing I like to keep in mind when mulling birds over is that uncommon presentations of common birds are more common that common presentations of uncommon birds. To that end, a Savannah that doesn't meet the criteria of colorful wings is more probable, but Baird's is not outside the realm of possibility for Larimer county. However, I would consider a prominent yellow brow to be an uncommon presentation of that bird... Just my two cents. 

Hope that helps! Congrats on the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, which is never a consolation bird here in CO, haha. 

Happy birding, 

Steve Rash

Denver Co.