El Paso county bird ID

[kickback]

I saw this guy at the Doubletree pond yesterday (which was a very active scene, lots of yellow rumps going crazy and a good variety of ducks). I was not able to get a picture of his wings.

What is he/she?

tx

Bill Kosar

Elpaso county

[Caleb A]

Hello, Bill!

I intuitively saw this as a House Sparrow based off its general body shape and bill ratio to head. Upon deeper study, I am still convinced that this is a female House Sparrow. Note the thicker, bi-colored bill and the brownish face with a faint tan border around the eye and "eye-line." The belly and breast is a plain tan, something I've observed in the majority of House Sparrows that visit my yard. Also note pink legs and pale throat compared to the rest of head. This is an excellent photo!

Note: I could be entirely wrong and be counting out another fitting species in El Paso (I'm a Larimer birder), but considering House Sparrows are common basically all over the U.S., I figured it would be definitely possible.

The birds are happy, and so am I

~Caleb Alons

[kickback]

I agree, Ira Sanders had the same comment. I had not seen many house sparrows recently but they have been common in this location in the past.

tx

bill