I photographed these last week in Southern Arizona. After seeing a similar bird identified as a Rufous-crowned, now I'm not sure if I have these identified correctly. I called them Chipping Sparrows.
CLOSED: Chipping Sparrows?
Yep, these are Chipping, note the black eyestripe.
Have to admit I'm not totally 100% certain on Rufous-crowned now for the other on a second look; its bill does look too large for Chipping, but I'm wondering if that may be because its feathers there are matted down with water, making the bill look larger. But it does also clearly show some rufous on the eyestripe (as well as wet blackish), and Chipping shouldn't show any rufous there, so I think I'll stick with Rufous-crowned as the most likely, maybe 95% sure.
Resin
Yes, I see what you mean about the rufous on the eyestripe. The size of the bill is what made me post those. It didn't look right for a chipping. But I also wondered if being wet made it look longer and thinner.
Thanks much Resin.
Patti
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