for Beginning and Intermediate Birders
by Karen Beckenbach and William (Bill) Norris
There are fewer better places in this country to observe birds than Southwest New Mexico. Although many visiting birdwatchers’ first stop is the 3.3-million acre Gila National Forest with its abundant woodland and forest habitats for birds, we advise them to spend a day or two at adjacent City of Rocks State Park. Though small in comparison (just a few thousand acres), the park offers extensive desert grasslands and shrublands, not to mention its famous rock formations and an isolated desert wetland (i.e., Cienega) which are attractive to birds in all seasons. As soon as one steps out of their car at the park Visitor Center, it’s hard to miss large, noisy Curve-Billed Thrashers and Cactus Wrens flying in and out of planted chollas, Canyon Towhees foraging underneath parked cars, Gambel’s Quail scurrying about in the parking lot, Chihuahuan Ravens flying endlessly overhead, and Rock Wrens and Say’s Phoebes singing from the tops of boulders and tall rock pinnacles. However, this just scratches the surface of the bird species that call City of Rocks State Park home.
Take a hike on any of the park trails (Hydra, Cienega and Table Mountain Trails) and you will undoubtedly see or hear at least a few of the more than fifteen sparrow species (including Juncos and Towhees) that call City of Rocks home for at least part of the year. Many “sparrows” in the bird family Passerellidae are often gray to brown with subdued markings in comparison to, say the bright yellow and black Scott’s Oriole’s that frequent Soaptree Yuccas in the park during the bird breeding season. However, beginning and intermediate birders can learn to identify these mostly seed-eating bird species with attention to tail and facial markings, behavior and song. In this article, we provide brief synopses of the sparrow species you are most likely to encounter at City of Rocks.
Head markings are especially useful for distinguishing sparrow species. Take a moment to study the diagram below and be sure you are familiar with the following terms: Nape (back of the head), Crown and Median Stripe (top of the head), Auricular Region (the cheek), Malar Stripe (extension into face from lower beak), Eyeline, Supercilium (Eyebrow), Lore (region between eye and beak), Chin and Throat. As you learn to distinguish Black-Throated Sparrow from Chipping Sparrow from White-Crowned Sparrow etc., these terms will sink in.
Bird Head Regions. https://nusavifauna.wordpress.com/bird-morphology-the-head/
Several body characteristics are also important for sparrow identification: a) presence or absence of breast streaks and b) whether or not outer tail feathers are white. It is also useful to know whether a given sparrow species is a year-round or winter resident. For convenience, we have divided the sparrow treatments into two groups based on whether or not their breasts are streaked. Here goes!
Sparrows with Breast Streaks
Song – Very similar to the Lincoln Sparrow. The Song Sparrow comes in a variety of browns from nearly red to gray, however there are markings common to any color morph. On the head the crown is striped but that can be subtle. The cheek is outlined in pale buff to white that is outlined with a dark band above and below. There is an eye stripe that is the same color as the crown. The side of the head can be gray or brown. The breast is generally white with very distinct stripes on the upper part. The belly and lower tends to be unstreaked. The back is streaked.
Song Sparrow. Photo by Ben Chu.
Lincoln – Though similar to the Song Sparrow there are distinct differences. Most notable the cheek is outlined in a buffy color darker than the Song. The eye streak is much less pronounced and the streaking on the head is more pronounced. The upper breast is the same buff color as the cheek outline and is streaked to the belly area. The belly is unstreaked and a bright white, below the belly is streaked. Both the Song and Lincoln are usually found near water verses dry grassland.
Lincoln Sparrow. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Lincoln%27s_Sparrow_%2834303079945%29.jpg
Savannah – The Savannah and Vesper are quite similar but do have distinct differences. The Savannah tends to have a more heavily streaked breast and belly. The head/face is very distinctive with alternating dark and light stripes. If the bird looks at you it appears there are streaks radiating from the bill to the side and crown of the head. There is often a yellow lore (more or less between the bill and eye). It has a very pale to white large eye-brow.
Savannah Sparrow. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/id
Vesper – The characters that most distinguish the Vesper sparrow are the absence of the white/pale eye-brow, the cheek outlined in white, the white spot in the lore area, and especially the white outer tail feathers (like the Dark-Eyed Junco). Breeding plumage include a rufous patch on the shoulder. This sparrow frequents flat desert shrublands and grasslands, and is frequently seen adjacent to Loop Road.
Vesper Sparrow. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/vesper-sparrow
Sagebrush – Though we include the Sagebrush Sparrow in the group with a streaked breast this can be so pale that the streaks are not readily observed. Also the streaks are on the sides verses the breast and belly area. It does have a black “heart” spot on the breast. Unlike most other sparrows it is gray not brown though the wings might be somewhat brown. The head has a white lore, eye-ring and the cheek is outlined in white.This uncommon winter resident is most often seen along the Cienega Trail, perched at the top of some shrub until disturbed at which time it drops to the ground out of sight.
Sparrows Which Lack Breast Streaks
Cassin’s – A year-round, perhaps common though usually overlooked sparrow of desert grasslands and shrublands in the park. Unlike the rest of the sparrow species in this category, Cassin’s sparrow lacks any distinctive markings or color patterns on head and breast. However, it has a very distinctive behavior which is a great cue to identification: it skylarks (i.e., sings during courtship flight displays). A good place to observe Cassin’s sparrow exhibiting this behavior is the top of the park Overlook, at the fence overlooking vast private rangeland.
Cassin’s Sparrow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassin%27s_sparrow#/media/File:Cassin’s_Sparrow,_Peucaea_cassinii.jpg
Black-Throated – A year-round, fairly common sparrow of dry shrubland habitats. Overall grayish color with brown wings. Head has pronounced white eye-brow and malar stripe. Lore, throat and upper breast are black. Probably the most frequently seen sparrow in the park.
Black-Throated Sparrow. Photo by Ben Chu.
Rufous-Crowned – A year-round sparrow of dry open shrubland and rocky habitat, often on steep slopes (e.g., Table Mountain). The unmarked pale breast can be either brown or gray. Back is usually gray with brown streaks. Head is heavily marked, gray with rufous crown and eye-stripe and a white eye-brow, also a white eye-ring. The malar region has a white and black streak. The head is similar to the Green-tailed Towhee.
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous-crowned_sparrow#/media/File:Rufous-crowned_Sparrow.jpg
White-Crowned – A winter bird that can be found in a variety of habitats, but generally shrubby. This sparrow has brown wings and tail, with a gray unmarked breast and neck. The adult birds have a wide white stripe on the crown with black on both sides followed another white stripe, then a thin black eye stripe. In juveniles the white area typical of adult birds is a buff color and the black is chocolate brown. Although frequently seen in large flocks during the winter months, some populations seem to be crashing in recent years.
White-Crowned Sparrow (Photo by Ben Chu)
White-Crowned Sparrow. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/id
Chipping – Chipping and Brewer’s sparrows are both in the genus, Spizella, and the winter plumage birds can look very similar. The Chipping is mostly here in the winter but a few hang around year-round. They are usually found in flocks often on roadsides. In adult breeding plumage the head has a bright rufous, almost red, crown, a white eyebrow and black eye stripe that extends from the bill through the eye toward the back of the head. The cheek is gray and the malar region is white. In winter and juvenile birds the crown is more brown with fine streaks, the eyebrow and malar region are buff, the black eye streak is dark brown, the cheek is brown. In all phases the back is brown with black streaks the breast is pale gray to buff.
Chipping Sparrow. Photo by Ben Chu.
Brewer’s – Very similar to the winter Chipping sparrow, just a bit duller over all. It is a winter bird, usually in flocks in dry grassland and shrubs. The crown is brown with thin black streaks that aren’t easy to see. It has a dark brown eye stripe that starts behind the eye and extends toward the back of the head. This can be the most distinct character separating the Chipping from the Brewer’s – this stripe in the Chipping starts at the bill and runs through the eye, in the Brewer’s it starts at the back of the eye.
Brewer’s Sparrow. Photo by Ben Chu
Lark – The Lark Sparrow is our most distinctive sparrow with harlequin face/head features with white, black, buff and rufous color. In addition it has a black heart spot on the breast and if you see them flying away you’ll see the corners of the outer tail feathers are white. It is here year-round and usually found in grassland habitat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lark_sparrow
Black-Chinned – another sparrow that is here year-round but is not as wide spread as some others. It is found in rocky, shrubby habitats, usually on steep slopes (e.g., Table Mountain). At first glance it looks similar to a junco with its gray body, brown wings, and pink bill. During the breeding season they have a black lore and chin, non-breeding that area is gray.
Black-Chinned Sparrow. https://ebird.org/species/bkcspa
Dark-Eyed Junco – winter residents in the parks that are commonly seen in small to large flocks foraging in shrubs at roadside or along trails in the park. The combination of dark-eyes and lore and white outer tail feathers, especially conspicuous in flight, distinguish Dark-Eyed Juncos from all other sparrows (though compare with Black-Chinned and Vesper Sparrows). Five forms of Dark-Eyed Junco occur in the park, as described below. Be aware that intermediates do occur and can be difficult to distinguish:
Slate-Colored – Uniformly gray except for white belly.
Oregon – Charcoal to dark brown head and breast; brown back and sides;
white belly.
Pink-Sided – Looks like a washed-out Oregon Junco. Pale Gray head, breast, back and wings; back dull brown; orange brown sides; white belly.
Gray-Headed – Almost uniformly gray except for an reddish-brown back.
Red-Backed – Very similar to Gray-Headed except for two-toned (dark upper, pale
lower) bill
Dark-Eyed Junco. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/219761656786900931/
Dark-Eyed Junco forms. https://peecnature.org/bird-of-the-week-the-dark-eyed-junco/
Towhees
Towhees, in general, are noisy. If you hear scratching around in leaves and grass it is most likely a towhee.
Canyon – a fairly common, year-round towhee that can be found just about anywhere. It is mostly a plain dull brown color, though during breeding it has a pale rufous crown. The vent (under the tail) is also rufous colored. It also has a black heart spot. It is a very curious bird and will go into cars if the window is rolled down, into houses and garages and generally just about any place it can fit.
Canyon Towhee. Photo by Ben Chu.
Spotted – another fairly common year-round towhee that can be found just about anywhere including your garden. It has a black head, throat, back, wings and tail. The wings have white spots that vary in number from bird to bird. The sides are rufous colored and the breast and belly region are white. It is one of the few birds in North America with a bright red eye. It is a very vocal bird with many, many different vocalizations.
Spotted Towhee. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/id
Green-Tailed – The Green-tailed Towhee is mainly a migrant in our area most often seen during the spring and fall migration. However, a few birds stay around in the winter particularly in places like City of Rocks. It is a colorful bird with green wings and tail. It has a bright, almost red, rufous crown, with white and gray or black malar stripes and white chin. The rest of the bird is gray.
Green-Tailed Towhee. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green-tailed_Towhee/id
We hope that the above descriptions and photos have inspired you to undertake sparrow identification. A good introduction to sparrow species can be found in Tony Godfrey’s fine little book “Field and Site Guides: Common Birds of Southwest New Mexico – Where and When to Find Them” available for purchase in the park Visitor’s Center store. For those birders who desire more in-depth treatments of these birds, consult the All About Birds website (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/) managed by Cornell Lab, or pick up one or both of the following two books: “Sparrows of the United States and Canada: The Photographic Guide” by David Beadle and James Rising, and “Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America” by Rick Wright.