Surprise appearance of a Lincoln's Sparrow!

Another uncommon guest to the Visitor Center Feeders, a Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) paid the Mountain a visit!

Lincoln’s sparrows are not distinctly marked from other sparrows, with subtle streaking across the face and a wash of beige across the chest. They are often confused with song sparrows by their dark spot on their chest, which is smaller in size on Lincoln’s sparrows and larger on song sparrows. Their songs are also quite similar, making this species a real head-scratcher for even seasoned birders. However, Lincoln’s sparrows are typically ground nesters, and while this doesn’t distinguish them from other sparrows by sight or sound, it certainly sets them apart from most songbirds. They boast an enormous variety of habitats, remaining relatively un-picky of whether they reside in woodlands, lakesides, overgrown fields or pastures, freshwater marshes and even suburbs. The observer who can identify this indistinct sparrow species is incredibly detail-oriented and quite gifted indeed.

Photo by Bill Moses.