Re: Sparrow Id? Clark County VA

William Leigh (tern@visuallink.com)
Tue, 6 Apr 1999 20:54:53 -0700


In the farm fields at the convergence  of 632 and 657 in Clark Co. were at
least 10 Savanah sparrows,  and
several horned larks.  There was one sparrow I could not id.  I was able to
get the following field marks:
- white eye ring
- upperparts tanish/brown with darker streaks
- fairly short tail slightly indented
- ****gray rump
- white throat
-top of head was grayish brown and very slightly streaked
- underparts very  white with distinct streaking mostly on flanks
- outer tail feathers edged in white
-  did not appear to have rusty shoulder patch
- bill was light colored (I believe)

I was thinking Vesper but I don't think gray rump works.  I probably didn't
get enough details but if there
are any sparrow experts who might hazzard a guess .........
I have only seen one Vesper sparrow but nevertheless my impression was that
this bird was smaller......
Bird was seen in plowed farm field. It perched on the fence several times
but I did not hear it sing .....
Thanks in advance!
                  William Leigh