Image of Swamp Sparrow

Description:

SWAMP or LINCOLN Sparrow? -- Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 21 December 2014: The two pics that constitute this observation were obtained at the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC) in Denton, Texas. My ID of this Swamp Sparrow is undetermined, iffy, though I have read many posts online about the differences between the Swamp Sparrow and Lincoln Sparrow (and the Song Sparrow for extra measure in some of these online blog posts). I have easily looked at 100 pics at least between the two (nay, three) sparrow species and that's just counting today. But this is not a Song Sparrow. The red tail and red feathers on its wings plus the dark and rich pattern of markings on its back lead us to think this is a Swamp Sparrow. Personally I want it to be Swamp Sparrow but recognize that others who view this closely might reach a different conclusion. I have photographed Lincoln Sparrow at the CCNHC more times than I have Swamp Sparrow. In fact, if this is Swamp Sparrow, then these are the only two pics I was able to take last fall and winter at the CCNHC of this species. In the bird walks I participated in sponsored and hosted by Scott Kiester of the Elm Fork Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists last fall and winter, he did point out Swamp Sprarrow a few times but I was never able to get a good look of one at least not in the field except for maybe this one. During last year's fall and winter season when the sparrows came into the area as part of their winter migration from parts north, the most common sparrows arguably at the CCNHC tended to be White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Harris's Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, and then followed by sparrows less often seen like Chipping Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow, while Lincoln Sparrow was somewhere in between these two groups, given it was more likely to be seen than the latter two sparrow cousins but less often than those named in the first group which were far more numerous at least at this site and that would have been based on my own impressions gathered from last year's first full season (for me at least) of following sparrows and birds generally during their winter migration into the area. Our particular Sparrow in this observation was so fast that I was only able to take two pics and not more which I would have wanted to do especially of its front view to see its chest and face for the field marks this would have yielded. The pics have a soft focus because we had to focus fast and did not have the time to do otherwise. And so there it is, Swamp or Lincoln? We would like to think it's Swamp but recognize that it may be a Lincoln. CCNHC is administered by the City of Denton, Texas.