Clay-colored or Brewer's Sparrow? San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ

The snow-capped Huachuca Mountains form a beautiful blue backdrop behind the contrasting golden grasses of the San Pedro River Riparian Natural Conservation Area in Southeast Arizona; 12/20/2011.

Is this a Clay-colored Sparrow or a Brewer's Sparrow? San Pedro Rip NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011.

When I had the fortune to visit the San Pedro River Riparian National Conservation Area in southest Arizona on 12/20/2011, I saw Sparrows abound. When I first located the Sparrow (Above) in my viewfinder I was sure I was seeing my very first Clay-colored Sparrow, and was very happy. Although it was scrounging around in the tall grassy reeds along side the river bank (San Pedro River), it popped out in the open several times for me to get some semi-decent pics. Then later in the day as I was looking through my images, the same bird (Below) made me question my initial identification.

The same Sparrow with its head turned down to show its nape.

The nape of this bird (Above) was striped with gray/brown streaks. According to The Sibley Field Guide... Clay-coloreds have a clean gray nape. Upon further investigation, this bird fit more the markings of a Brewer's Sparrow ( a close relative of the Clay-colored Sparrow - both being in the Spizella family), which has a streaked brownish gray nape and a complete strong white eye ring. Both of these traits are evident on this Sparrow. The Brewer's also has less strong facial feature than the Clay-colored. So I am going out on a limb (or at least a blade of grass) and call this a Brewer's Sparrow, which made me equally as happy, since it also was the first time seeing and identifying this species.

Another or perhaps the same Brewer's Sparrow,  San Pedro Rip NCA, AZ 12/20/2011

Again with its streaked nape showing, this is probably a Brewer's Sparrow,  San Pedro Rip NCA, AZ 12/20/2011

Brewer's Sparrows are a western Sparrow ranging north into Canada's British Columbia and Alberta Provinces during the summer stretching south into Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. It winters in the southern borders of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and throughout much of Mexico.

A Clay-colored Sparrow,  San Pedro Rip NCA, AZ 12/20/2011

With further viewing my images of the day, I found that I did indeed have a few photos of the Clay-colored Sparrows (Above). They, on the other hand, have stronger facial features with a darker more obvious "mustache," wider and buffier "eyebrows," and a less obvious eye-ring than the Brewer's. These traits and the gray nape suggest to me that the bird (Above) is a Clay-colored. When you compare this pic with those of the Brewer's, you can see how similar the two species are.

Another Clay-colored Sparrow,  San Pedro Rip NCA, AZ 12/20/2011

Clay-colored Sparrows are more of a north central bird in the summer as it resides in much of the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, and into the Northwest Territories. They also take up residence in the Northern U.S. states of Montana in the west stretching east to New York State, covering the areas around all of the Great Lakes. In winter, Clay-coloreds are similar to Brewer's, residing in the southern borders of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and throughout Mexico.

In both cases, I feel fairly certain that I have identified these two similar Spizella Sparows accurately, but, of course, will welcome input from anyone who reads this blog who has better insight and more experience.

Curve-billed Thrasher

A Curve-billed Thrasher hanging out at the San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011.

Before my weeklong visit to Arizona the week before Christmas (2011), I've only seen a Curve-billed Thrasher twice in my life. However, this visit seemed to be the week of seeing these Thrashers (Above) as they were very visible in all the different places I visited during the week. The first one I saw during the week was at the san Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (Above). They are somewhat easily identifiable by their very intense bright yellow eyes, long-curved bill, and their overall brownish/grayish body - lighter underneath with round darker spots. The closest relative of these guys is the Bendire's Thrasher, also a Southwest resident. But Bendire's are less commonly seen and their bills are smaller and a bit straighter. I have not had the opportunity to see or photograph a Bendire's Thrasher ... yet.

Another Curve-billed Thrasher scurrying from one bush to another, AZ Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, AZ; 12/21/2011.

A day later while visiting the Arizona Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Curve-billed Thrashers were all over the place (Above) - scrounging in the underbrush, perching in low trees, and even foraging out in the open. Then the day after that while hiking in South Mountain Park, I saw another one singing on the top of a low cactus (Below).

Yet another Curve-billed Thrasher perched on a low cactus, South Mt. Park, Phoenix, AZ; 12/22/2011.

Curve-billed Thrashers are another bird unique to the Southwest. They can be found in the southern halves of Arizona and New Mexico, the western half of Texas, northernly into the southeast corner of Colorado, and southernly throughout all of Mexico.

Pyrrhuloxia; San Pedro Riparian Nat. Con. Area, AZ

A pair of Pyrrhuloxias are joined at the San Pedro House feeding station by White-crowned Sparrows and a House Finch, San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011

I never get tired of seeing a Pyrrhuloxia, so when I drove into the parking lot of the San Pedro Riparian NCA's and saw a pair (Above) at the bird feeder in front of the Visitors Center, I was very quick to grab my camera to get some photos.

A male Pyrrhuloxia,  San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011

A female Pyrrhuloxia, San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011

Pyrrhuloxias are cousins to our Northern Cardinals and without close observation could easily be confused as a female Northern Cardinal (Below). Both are the same size at 8.75" long with the same coloring, but the main differences can be be seen in the face. The Pyrrhuloxia's bill is stubbier and yellowish with a very dramatic curve in the culmen (Above); whereas, the Cardinal's bill is orangish-red and extends to more of a point and its culmen is straighter. The female cardinal's face is black while the male Pyrrhuloxia's face is red and the females is brownish/gray as is the rest of its body.  Pyrrhuloxia's have a red ring around its eyes, while the Cardinals' are black.  The male Pyrrhuloxia has a streak of red extending from its throat  all the way to its legs, whereas the female Cardinal has no red on its breast, throat or belly. Finally the Pyrrhuloxia's crest tends to be longer and pointier than its Cardinal cousins, but this not always obvious in the field.

A female Northern cardinal at my backyard feeder, Rockford, IL; 1/31/2010.

A male Pyrrhuloxia,  San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011.

Pyrrhuloxias are common but in a a very specific area which incldes the southeast corner of Arizona, the southern border of New Mexico leading into mexico, and the southwest portion of Texas. They will pretty much stay put in these areas year round, without much migration involved. These birds can be found in a desert brushy habitat, often near a water source.

1st pics of Winter birds of 2012 in Northern Illinois

A winter scene from Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

I interrupt my regular scheduled series of "Birds form Southeast Arizona" to bring you photos from my first winter birding outings this January.  I havn't been out as much as I'd like to (only twice), but I managed to get a couple of firsts. My first pic of a Cackling Goose (which became #358 on my life List), and the first Pine Siskin to show up in our yard (the 39th different species of bird to appear in our yard since I started keeping track two years ago). Below are photos of some of the only 30 bird species I've seen so far in 2012: American Goldfinch, American Crow, American Tree Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Cedar Waxwing, Dark-eyed Slate-colored Junco, Downy Woodpecker, European Starling, Fox Sparrow, House Finch, House sparrow, Mallard Duck, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, Pine Siskin, Red-bellied woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Dove, Ruddy Duck, Song Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

American Tree Sparrow in my yard, Rockford, IL; 1/22/2012.

The smaller goose on the left with the shorter neck and stubbier bill is a Cackling Goose. You can see the size difference from the Canada on the right, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 1/22/2012.

Cedar Waxwings sharing a meal, Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 1/16/2012.

A Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco on the backyard feeder,  Rockford, IL; 1/21/2012.

Another Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco on the backyard feeder, Rockford, IL; 1/28/2012.

A female Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco in our yard, Rockford, IL; 1/28/2012.

One of my surprises of this early winter is this Fox Sparrow , which I didn't expect to see until Spring,  Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

The same Fox Sparrow sipping from a cold stream in  Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

A flock of House Sparrows like to hide in this pile of branches in our backyard, Rockford, IL; 1/16/2012.

Mourning Doves have become more numerous feeding at our backyard feeder, Rockford, IL 1/21/2012.

Northern Cardinals are frequent visitors in our yard all year long, Rockford, IL 1/21/2012.

This Pine Siskin was hanging with Goldfinches and feeding on our thistle seed feeder. It was the first Pine Siskin I have seen in our yard, Rockford, IL 1/15/2012.

Pine Siskins have been appearing almost daily at our feeders this winter, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

Another regular visitor in our yard, the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Rockford, IL 1/21/2012.

A Song Sparrow; Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 1/16/2012.

Another Song Sparrow standing in the icy stream, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

Another surprise for the winter was this Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler feeding off of some berries in Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve ... and, No, this photo is not upside down. Warblers are not winter birds here in Northern Illinois, but if one would be found it would be these guys. Rockford, IL; 1/16/2012.

A week later I saw another Yellow-rumped Myrtle, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

The same yellow-rump, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

The same "butter butt" sipping from the same stream as the Fox Sparrow (Above). They were only yards from eachother, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL 1/22/2012.

I hope you enjoyed my slight diversion of Northern Illinois January birds. Next weekend I'll return to my series of birds from my trip to Arizona in December: Fri. 2/3 - Pyrrhuloxias; Sat. 2/4 - Curve-billed Thrashers; and Sun. 2/5 - Brewer's and Clay-colored Sparrows.

Winter Birding in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, AZ

A flock of birds fly along this beautiful vista from the San Pedro River Trail in the San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011.

One of my favorite places I visited in my week in Arizona last December was the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (Above). A link to a website from the Bureau of Land Management dedicated to this area is  http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/ncarea/sprnca.html .

A feeder serving its purpose, San Pedro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011.

Upon pulling up in the San Pedro Riparian NCA parking lot, the first thing I noticed were several bird feeders outside the small visitor's center. The feeders (Above) were packed full with White-crowned Sparrows, female Red-winged Blackbirds, House Finches, Lesser Goldfinches, and Pyrrhuloxias.

A Black Phoebe, one of the many birds I saw in the San Pedro Riparian NCA; AZ, 12-20-11

During my visit to this magnificent Natural Area I saw more than 30 different tyopes of birds including: Pyrrhuloxias, American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, House Finches, Common Ravens, Northern Red-Shafted Flickers, Acorn Woodpeckers, Ladder-backed Woodpecker (unconfirmed), Gila Woodpeckers, Black Phoebe, Says Phoebe (I also was sure that I saw an Eastern Phoebe, although they would be uncommon in this part of the country), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbird (female only), Curved-billed Thrasher, Inca Dove, Green-tailed Towhee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-rumped Audubon's Warbler, Mallard Ducks, and many sparrows (Clay-colored, Song, Chipping, Baird's, Brewer's, Savannah, Vesper, White-crowned, and probably others I couldn't ID).
Some of my photos below:

An Inca Dove taking a nap in a tree, San padro Riparian NCA, AZ; 12/20/2011.

A House Finch

A female Lesser Goldfinch (Male in the background)

This Red-tailed Hawk sat in a tree above the Visitor's center for quite some time ...

... then took off and flew directly at me. I hardly had time to get it in focus before it flew over and past me.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet, which wouldn't get into the clear, but at least I was able to get its "ruby" crown.

There were many female Red-winged Blackbirds on the premises, but no males were seen.

A Says Phoebe.

A Song Sparrow.

Vesper Sparrow.

A juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.

Adult White-crowned Sparrows.

Tomorrow I will feature more photos of the Pyrrhuloxia , and next weekend the Curved-billed Thrasher and the difference between Brewer's amd Clay-colored Sparrows.