Send comments to:Will Cook
Date: Wed, 1 Jan 1997 13:16:29 -0500 (EST)
From: "Charles W. Cook" cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Mystery Sparrow in Durham
Thanks to Roger Kohn and Ramona Conyers' hospitality, a group of about 15
of us saw the Durham "mystery sparrow" this morning. It never came to the
feeder, but put in two appearances in a nearby bush, allowing us to get it
in the scope. The bird first was spotted shortly after Clyde Smith
stepped out for a walk. The second sighting was shortly after Clyde left.
(Thanks, Clyde, for leaving and allowing us to see the bird!)
I think the leading theory of the bird's ID right now is White-throated
Sparrow. We saw the mystery bird in close proximity to a White-throated
and noted that shape, size, and bare parts were almost identical. This
bird may appear to be slightly larger than it actually is because it's all
dark. Hopefully Norm Budnitz's photographs will turn out -- we'll try to
set them up on a web page (and/or send them out by e-mail to interested
parties).
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7409
cwcook@acpub.duke.edu h 919-967-5446
Duke University Botany Dept., Durham, North Carolina
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From kika@mindspring.comSun Jan 12 12:12:07 1997
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 18:23:24 -0500
From: Franchesca Perez kika@mindspring.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: Mystery Sparrow jpegs
>The bill, head shape, tail length, and long robust legs
>(?metatarsals?) all say towhee to me.
I agree with the towhee choice. look at the size of its head. towhees
have HUGE heads. I banded them this summer, and their heads were always
getting caught in the mist nets!
Franchesca Perez
kika@mindspring.com
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From cbirdpro@ix.netcom.comSun Jan 12 12:12:34 1997
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 22:29:54 -0500
From: GD cbirdpro@ix.netcom.com
Subject: towhee/?
Like to get video of this bird (Towhee). Who would I contact to get
permission to do so?
Looks like towhee to me--handled a few in the past--on all points
mentioned by P Coin, as well as tail shape. Have to hold off on which
one, or what it is a product of (plumage looks interesting, to say the
least, especially the back). It's difficult to get a clear view from
the images I've seen on the web page.
Greg Dodge
Catbird Productions
cbirdpro@ix.netcom.com
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From edabbs@FTC-I.netSun Jan 12 12:15:42 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 09:46:39 -0500
From: edabbs@FTC-I.net
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Photos
Thank you, Patrick for bringing the Mystery Bird pictures to the net for
the rest of us to see. Excellent! The silhouette, to me certainly appears
to be that of a towhee's and the added indication of a silvery bill
convinces me.
Evelyn Dabbs
Sumter Co., SC
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From Pullmans@aol.comSun Jan 12 12:16:44 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 11:13:26 -0500 (EST)
From: Pullmans@aol.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Photos
Durham, NC, Liz Pullman. Nice little towhee, also good photos.Thanks, Norm.
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From cwcook@acpub.duke.eduSun Jan 12 12:17:30 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 11:58:52 -0500 (EST)
From: "Charles W. Cook" cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: Mystery Sparrow jpegs
Amazing bird, isn't it? It would make an excellent Birding photo quiz!
So far, everyone who has seen the photographs of the mystery sparrow on
the web (n=7) has guessed (Eastern) Towhee. I guess we've got its
identity solved... Not so fast! As far as I know, few to none of the 20+
people who have seen this bird in real life thought it was an E. Towhee.
Fascinating, huh?
Both the mystery sparrow and E. Towhee are chunky, long tailed sparrows,
but there are a few problems with the towhee ID. The mystery sparrow is
significantly smaller than an E. Towhee, about the same size as or slightly
larger than a White-throated Sparrow. I don't have web access from home,
so I'm not sure what photos are up, but compare eato_02.jpg with
myst_04.jpg, and myst_14.jpg with wtsp_15.jpg. Another problem is the
squarish tail of the mystery sparrow (myst_14.jpg shows this well).
Towhees tend to have well-rounded tails. On the very subjective side, I
think that E. Towhees tend to have a more "reptilian" look to them, which
I don't think this bird has. (I haven't figured out yet how to clearly
describe what I mean by "reptilian", but eato_02.jpg and eato_03.jpg both
look "reptilian" to me.) :-)
One interesting behavior hasn't been mentioned before: the mystery sparrow
"behaved very aggressively toward White-throated Sparrows that came to the
feeder." - Bob Chase, from Christmas Bird Count details. No vocalizations
have been heard yet.
If you don't have web access, I'd be glad to forward Norm Budnitz's jpegs
to you as an e-mail attachment.
The photos on Pat Coin's New Hope Audubon page are at:
http://www.rtpnet.org/~nhas/bird/myst/index.html
Lois Schultz has also set up the mystery bird photos at:
http://www.lib.duke.edu/bes/mystery/
Keep the guesses coming! This is fun!
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7409
cwcook@acpub.duke.edu h 919-967-5446
Duke University Botany Dept., Durham, North Carolina
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From thrush@hotmail.comSun Jan 12 20:18:05 1997
Date: 12 Jan 1997 20:49:42 -0000
From: R G thrush@hotmail.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Everyone Loves A Mystery (Bird), Pt. 1
Mysterybird fans: I ventured back to Roger Kohn's living room this morning
(1/12) to take photos of the m.b. and got more good looks at Roger's feeder
(photos probably won't be any better than what Norm has already provided).
Several thoughts/impressions though since so many are jumping on the towhee
bandwagon:
1) the bird has appeared at Roger's feeder for 2 straight winters; unseen in
warm months, thus appears to be migratory - I've always considered towhees
yr-long residents but please correct me if someone knows that they can migrate
on occasion.
2) the bill on the bird is not as thick as it appears in the photos (when bird
is feeding and has something in its mouth it takes on that appearance, but when
empty and closed it is a thinner sparrowish size).
3) also, photos don't really show the subtle streaking on back and wings that
are more sparrowish.
4) the photos are also deceptive in regards to bird's size -- I think few who
have seen the bird live have felt that the size, shape, or 'jizz' of the bird
was that of a towhee, although impressions have been quite varied (and it does
have a 'towhee-ish' head). Several people, including Roger who has seen it
most, feel the bird is white-throat size. My impression, in line with M. Tove's
original description, is that it more closely resembles the size and shape of a
fox sparrow (some have suggested that the 'stockier' or 'chunkier' look of the
bird is an illusion due to its solid dark coloration vs.a
white throat's streakiness. BTW, Peterson lists overlapping sizes:
*******************************************
From thrush@hotmail.comSun Jan 12 20:18:33 1997
Date: 12 Jan 1997 20:51:20 -0000
From: R G thrush@hotmail.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Everyone Loves A Mystery (Bird), Pt 2
white-throat 6 1/2 - 7
fox sp. 6 3/4 - 7 1/2
e. towhee 7 - 8 1/2
Also, BTW, the bird consistently chases other white throats away from the
platform feeder, but is more tolerant of other species (juncos, chickadees,
titmice -- indicative of a white-throat ???) In full profile the bird can look
a bit like a smallish towhee but from most angles it simply doesn't appear
quite the right length or shape. Moreover, the bird has never been viewed
shuffling or feeding along the ground in towhee fashion even though juncos and
white throats are constantly in Roger's backyd. at ground level. If seen away
from feeder the bird is most often 4-8 feet off ground in bush or short tree
sitting or turning in a sparrow manner.
Finally, thus far no call from bird has been heard.
None of this it to rule out some sort of towhee or towhee-cross, but just to
say it isn't as clearcut as pictures might lead some to believe. (Biologically
speaking, what could a towhee cross with in its breeding range ? and what about
the migratory habit ??)
The bird will probably stick around all winter affording more opportunities
for looks. Lastly, I'm wondering if something like the Cornell FeederWatch
program would possibly have any record of such a bird for the warm months ??
Well, hope this all helps (...add to the confusion !)
*******************************************************************
Rob Gluck, Chapel Hill, thrush@hotmail.com 967-3134
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From kika@mindspring.comSun Jan 12 20:19:20 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 17:09:23 -0500
From: Franchesca Perez kika@mindspring.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: that darn bird!
I would really like to see this creature live! the tail in the photos
just looks too long for a fox sparrow. and even though "the bird has
never been viewed shuffling or feeding along the ground in towhee fashion,"
keep in mind that fox sparrows feed in much the same manner as do towhees.
as well, towhees spend a lot of time at shrub level. concerning migration,
we have permament breeder residents around here, but the towhees in the
northern states move south for the winter.
anybody have a mist-net handy? then we could really get a look! (just kidding)
Franchesca Perez
Chapel Hill
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From slbrown@awod.comSun Jan 12 20:19:40 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 17:21:56 -0500
From: "S.L. Brown" slbrown@awod.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: Mystery Sparrow jpegs
Do any of the new photos show the bird *with* other birds? I find photos
of individual birds (like this) almost impossible to use without
something to give a size context.
The posts clarifying behavior are interesting (and helpful) too -- but
it's hard enough to make a guess sight unseen at the best of times - let
alone with such a *dark* bird as this one.
Will look forward to seeing more about this mystery bird!
Sharon Brown
Charleston County, SC
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From Pullmans@aol.comSun Jan 12 20:20:11 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 17:52:50 -0500 (EST)
From: Pullmans@aol.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Towhee
Durham, NC, Liz Pullman.. Has anyone checked eye (iris) color on this bird?
Normal Towhees should have red irises, even the ones hatched in 1996 (and
excluding the coastal race). White-throated sparrows have brown irises,
ranging from dull brown to a rich brown depending on age. Also, the size of
the tarsus should be carefully noted. Towhees have noticeably wider tarsi,
requiring a size 2 band instead of a much smaller 1B needed by the
White-throated Sparrows. (It still says Towhee to me based on the silhouette
alone.)
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From avocet@mindspring.comSun Jan 12 20:20:38 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 19:43:52 -0500
From: Roger Kohn avocet@mindspring.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: mystery bird
>the photos are also deceptive in regards to bird's size -- I think few who
>have seen the bird live have felt that the size, shape, or 'jizz' of the bird
>was that of a towhee, although impressions have been quite varied (and it does
>have a 'towhee-ish' head). Several people, including Roger who has seen it
>most, feel the bird is white-throat size. My impression, in line with M. Tove's
>original description, is that it more closely resembles the size and shape of a
>fox sparrow (some have suggested that the 'stockier' or 'chunkier' look of the
>bird is an illusion due to its solid dark coloration vs.a
>white throat's streakiness. BTW, Peterson lists overlapping sizes:
This bird is tough to size. It is hard to compare mystery bird with
white-throateds directly since he runs them off rather promptly. And we've
never seen him in conjunction with a fox sparrow. Do fox sparrows come to
feeders? -- we've never had one although we often have them in the yard.
This bird puffs up a lot, presumably to vary the amount of heat he retains,
and the difference can be dramatic. This helps confuse figuring his size
although I don't suppose his length will vary regardless.
Mystery bird has a distinct brown iris which shows up well against his black
head. The white-throated seems to have a similar eye but it doesn't stand
out as well. As far as I can tell the fox sparrow does not have much of an
iris, although a towhee certainly does.
I have put in some time trying to determine his behavior when he is away
from the feeder but so far to no purpose. No vocalizations so far either.
Wife Ramona points out that folks who want to appear slimmer are advised to
wear dark clothing. So maybe this bird is somewhat chunkier than I think.
Still, if he is larger than a white throat, it isn't by much. I really think
he's smaller than a towhee. Maybe we need some video. I'll try and get some.
*******************************************
From mtove@intercenter.netMon Jan 13 09:16:48 1997
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 20:48:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Tove mtove@intercenter.net
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: "Mystery" Sparrow
Dear all,
This is a sort of repeat of an earlier message and is based on my own,
rather prolonged view of the bird and not based on any photos or second-hand
descriptions. There are certain things that can be stated with certainty and
some which cannot. Those which can are as follows:
1) The bird is NOT a towhee. Period. The ONLY thing which "seems"
towhee-like is the rounded head; a bit more rounded than that of the
White-throated Sparrows which also frequent the feeder.
2) The bird IS a Sparrow, if not 100%, mostly (and I strongly suspect 100%).
In size and shape it is most comparable to a Fox Sparrow.
3) The bird is an ADULT. It was seen all last winter.
4) The bird's "odd" plumage is due to abnormal pigmentation (as opposed to
being a stray from somewhere else) or to simple hybridization.
5) The bird's plumage is obviously abnormal. the soft parts do not appear to be.
6) The bird has a VERY distinctive pattern of densely packed "spots" on the
chest which extend from the black head in a "U" shape to the middle belly
area, an unmarked back and scapulars with broad black central shaft streaks
(broader than the shaft).
In my opinion, this last observation is the clue to the bird's identity.
Forgetting the actual colors (which are melanomorphic (abnormally high
concentrations of menalin), the pattern (the distribution) of colors clearly
points to a sparrow with a streaked breast, not a clear breast. There are
only 3 large adult sparrows with streaked breasts: Fox, Song and Lark
Bunting (female). Of those three, ONLY Fox Sparrow has the rufous tones
exhibited by this bird. Only Fox Sparrow has the actual breast pattern of
this bird and only Fox Sparrow has an unstreaked back (just not the race
iliaca). Although I did not think so when I first saw the bird, I believe it
is a Fox Sparrow.
Mike Tove
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From cbirdpro@ix.netcom.comMon Jan 13 09:17:06 1997
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 09:39:31 -0500
From: GD cbirdpro@ix.netcom.com
Subject: mystery bird
Hmm. It is difficult to make determinations (guesses) having only
seen the images on the web--size and behavior--but consider the
following.
If it is possible to attach a Photo to a posting (question to you Will
Cook), I have a photo (two actually, one mine taken in NJ and another
of a bird photo'd in CT, which I can't locate at the moment) of a
WTSPxSCJU (w-t sparrow X junco). The photo which can not be located
at present seems to have more black in the plumage. As soon as I do
locate it, I'll post it as well, if this is allowable. If not I could
send it to individuals as an attachment. At present I don't have
server space to put the image on the web (coming soon).
Seems hybrids of these two birds are not uncommon (at least fifteen
records). There breeding habitats over lap.
There is a good article dicussing hydrids in "Birding":
Sibley, David. "A Guide to Finding and Identifying Hybrid Birds."
Birding Vol. XXVI: No.3 June. 1994: 163-177.
In fact, the above mentioned photo is in the article.
At the risk of being run out of town, I will pass on an opinion taken
from an individual who suggests that the mystery bird has the shape of
a Brown-headed cowbird.
With that I say, good day.
Greg Dodge
Catbird Prod.
382-3095
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From rdg@med.unc.eduTue Jan 14 09:30:45 1997
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 97 8:37:07 EST
From: Rob D Gluck rdg@med.unc.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Mysterybird - Solution !!!??*#&@$%!???
I figured out what our mystery bird is...it came to me in a dream
last night (after too much pepperoni pizza):
The father was a cross between a highly inbred melanomorpholistical
fox sparrow and an immunosuppressed pasteurized white-throat, both
hailing from Three Mile Island in Pa... and the mother was a hybrid
between a dwarf American rock dove and an escaped Australian
budgerigar.
You can thank me later. (...okay, so it's only a guess)
_--------------------------------------------------------------------------
R. Gluck Chapel Hill ;-) thrush@hotmail.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
...but seriously, I'll cast a tentative vote for fox sp. as follows
(but would love to see a good argument for a totally new candidate!):
1) color & pattern of bird is so bizarre as to be minimally usseful
for i.d. purposes so I'll forego it.
2) size, shape, and posture of bird seem to me most consistent with
fox sp. but this is in dispute I'll even forego that.
3) behavior then is key, and what strikes me most in 2 visits to
Roger's is that this bird is a loner and a skulker - he appears out
of nowhere by himself in a tree, bush, or at feeder for brief period
and then disappears into nowhere - very reminiscent of my fox sp.
sightings in wild. White throats are far more congenial and fearless,
hanging around for longer periods in a given area, in the open or
on ground with other birds (...but maybe his bizarre appearance has
turned him into a loner and skulker !??) Also, I think this bird's
body movements are slightly more slow and deliberative akin to fox
sp. vs. the jerky, 'flitty' movements of white-throats.
*******************************************
From mschultz@acpub.duke.eduTue Jan 14 11:19:38 1997
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 09:43:42 -0500 (EST)
From: "Michael P. Schultz" mschultz@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: mystery bird's beak
Hi Car.birders:
While I am a longstanding member of the Fox Sparrow camp when it
comes to IDing the mystery bird, the note from Brenda Tekin that Will
attached to a recent post brings up a good point. The photos show a lot
of bill structure detail. The upper mandible appears considerably larger
and shows a strong upward extention, and strong angle. I agree this
looks towhee-like, but a search of my bird books uncovered no photos
of Fox Sparrows with enough bill detail to compare. We must keep in mind
that, along the line of Mike Tove's comments, this could be one of
the western forms of fox sparrow, and there is considerable variation in
bill size among the (sub)speices.
Take a closer look at the bill, could this be our key??
One thing for sure, this exercize is showing us how difficult it is
to use size as a field mark!!
Mike Schultz
Durham, NC
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From cwcook@acpub.duke.eduTue Jan 14 11:20:19 1997
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 10:02:02 -0500
From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: More mystery bird
Here are some comments from Kenn Kaufman, who wrote the book _Advanced
Birding_ (in the Peterson series).
Will
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 22:13:25 -0800
From: kennk@ix.netcom.com (Kenn Kaufman )
Subject: Guess what
To: cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
-------Will: Interesting bird! Thanks, I think, for sharing it with
the rest of us!
I'm not ready to stick my neck out with an opinion on the NC
mystery bird, but these are some points I found interesting:
1. In the comments posted so far, I was surprised not to see any
mention of the White-throated Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco hybrid
possibility. That's SUCH a frequent hybrid combination that it was the
first thing that came to mind when I read your note on WGBIRD01, before
I had even looked at the photos. That combo would explain a couple of
things, including the pale bill. Admittedly, none of the details I've
seen on White-throat X Junco hybrids have been for birds with solidly
dark heads -- a little of the White-throat pattern usually seems to
show through.
2. Comments all seem to be based on general impressions, and not
on analysis of specific characteristics. I was looking at the black
streaks on the back and scapulars, and the black centers on the greater
coverts; these are very much like the pattern seen in some sparrow
genera close to Zonotrichia, and not like any plumage of towhees or any
race of Fox Sparrow. The lack of white tips on the greater coverts and
white edges on the tertials makes the wing pattern not quite like
White-throat or the other Zonotrichia; perhaps hybridization with some
plain-winged species could cancel out these white areas.
3. I don't see anything in the photos to suggest a towhee, so I'm
surprised that this has been such a popular theory.
4. Field identification of hybrids is a pursuit fraught with
uncertainty. If the bird's host doesn't want the bird disturbed, I
respect that. But if you guys want to have more than guesses as to the
bird's identity, it would be a really good idea to call in some bander
so that the bird could be thoroughly measured and photographed in the
hand.
But in the meantime, it will be good for lots of debate!
Kenn Kaufman
Tucson, AZ
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7409
cwcook@acpub.duke.edu h 919-967-5446
Duke University Botany Dept., Durham, North Carolina
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From cwcook@acpub.duke.eduTue Jan 14 11:21:34 1997
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 09:54:02 -0500
From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: More mystery bird guesses
Mystery bird fans,
Here are some more comments from web-surfers for your entertainment... I
still like White-throated Sparrow the best, but Rob Gluck's latest theory
might have some merit. I wonder what a White-throated Sparrow x Fox Sparrow
could look like...
Will
Based on bill shape, head shape, and the overall look of the bird, I
believe it is an Eastern Towhee, probably a male with some form of "leoucism".
It is hard to determine from the photos, but the bird's size doesn't appear
to be significantly different from E. Towhee. (Saying that the photos were
taken with the same lens indicates nothing about the scale of the photos.
They have to be taken with the same lens *and* with the camera at the same
distance from the bird before the scales are the same). I recently
photographed an obvious White-cr. Sparrow at Bosque del Apache NWR which was
entirely pale tan, only a few shades paler than body of the bird shown.
One other possibility that looks reasonable is some sort of escaped
African Finch.
Jerry R. Oldenettel
Albuquerque, NM
borealowl@aol.com
*******************************************
I looked at the pictures. I think it is an aberrant Dark-eyed Junco, or
perhaps a very strange hybrid. The jizz, particularly the beak and the
black head, made me immediately think "junco". The streaking doesn't
look right to me for a sparrow. I would guess it to be a strange
hybrid, with junco dominating.
Rocky Rothrock rocky@monmouth.com
*******************************************
A quick look at your mystery bird suggests a rosy finch; it is a very
rosy finch like pink color on the bird's flanks.
Dan Tallman
tallmand@wolf.northern.edu
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Wow! what a wild looking bird.
I have not studied the photos at length, as I just received the posting,
however my first impression would be a melanistic Eastern Towhee. The
overall structure appears to be that of a towhee, although the bill appears a
little short. However none of these photos show a perfect profile. I can't
conceive a hybrid with anything. Any potential species that I can think of
should show white in the plummage since normal towhee has white areas in the
plummage as well. It is stated that it appears slightly smaller than Eastern
Towhee. Dark birds can create the illusion of smaller size, and white or pale
birds often give the illusion of appearing larger.
There is some exceptional birding talent that subscribes to ID Frontiers, and
the discussion should be interesting and enlightening.
Best regards, Bob
Bob Barber 360 Port.-Cumb. Rd. Millville, NJ 08332
E-mail - bob@hsrl.rutgers.edu
*******************************************
The reason you are not able to agree on the identity (or even genus)
of this bird is... it's not of this continent.
You have an exotic escape here of African or Asian origin. The bill
is the best clue. Note how the top of the culmen meets the forehead
up high? I don't have enough Asian books to really give this bird a
thorough going over, but if it is from cultured stock you may never
get a satisfactory id.
Check out the weavers...
mpatters mpatters@pacifier.com
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Great photos! The head and bill cry towhee to me, perhaps
just because of their color. The streaking on the back
suggests a sparrow, however. Can't we compare eye diameter
to tarsi width or something to get a handle on the towhee
vs. sparrow issue? The photos show the legs very well;
perhaps we can compare their size to other things about
the bird.
Steve Hampton
*******************************************
From slbrown@awod.comTue Jan 14 11:22:36 1997
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 10:42:47 -0500
From: "S.L. Brown" slbrown@awod.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: More mystery bird
Thank you, Will, for posting Kenn Kaufmann's remarks!!
I've kept quiet on this so far because, like I said before, a bird like
this would be tough enough to figure out in person, but it's close to
impossible going by still photos.
*Everything* Kenn said makes perfect sense to me, AND makes me feel a
lot better, as I have not been able to go with the Towhee theory *at
all.* Not just because of the the field marks that Kenn articulated so
well, but also because everything that's been written about this bird's
behavior is so unlike a Towhee.
There have been a lot of articles on hybrids, particularly hybrid
sparrows, published lately which I've been reading (and re-reading) with
great interest as we've had increasing numbers of sparrows at the ACE
Basin NWR that "are not" anything. As in, we get great views, long
looks, and they simply do not fit the bill for any single species.
Any chance of grabbing a feather for DNA analysis???
Sharon Brown
slbrown@awod.com
Charleston County, SC
*******************************************
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 11:26:52 -0500 (EST)
From: "James D. Rising" rising@zoo.toronto.edu
Subject: Re: Mystery sparrow
To: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
Cc: janet mannone underg@zoo.utoronto.ca, Jon Greenlaw jsg@iline.com
This is a strange bird. I confess that my first impression was that it
wasn't a sparrow at all (sensu Emberizinae), but a finch of some sort.
However, the fact that this is the second winter that it has appeared I
think strongly argues against it being an excaped cage bird, and strongly
in favor of it being a weird native migratory emberizid. I'd like to
know more about soft part colour. A towhee of that age should either
have a red eye (esp. if it is a migrant) or a straw-colored eye. The
bill looks too "shiny" to be towhee to me, and the tomium too round--but
then, it doesn't look like any sparrow to me. Is the tail as long as a
towhee's? Or is it more Fox Sparrow like. I think that with sort of
individual behavior is an important clue. If Fox Sparrows don't some to
the feeder, but are in the yard, this suggests to me that it isn't a Fox
Sparrow. I think that W-t is out of the question--bill size and jizz all
wrong.
Let me quote from Greenlaw's 1973 note (Auk 90:428-29, 1973) [I'm
forwarding this to Jon. Would be nice if he could see the pictures, but
I don't know if he has web access]
"On 3 June 1968 I collected a first-year male...Rufous-sided Towhee on
its territory in Piscataway Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey....The
specimen is unique in the extent of chestnut and rufous in its plumage,
and is unquestionably an erythristic form....Feathers on the crown and
occiput are broadly tipped (distal one-quarter) with chestnut and black
basally. The forehead bears fewer chestnut-tipped feathers. Overall the
effect is a distinct chestnut cap only a little less complete (black
present) than that found in pure ocai.
"Unlike other partly chestnut towhee specimens reported in the literature
where the color is restricted to the pileum, the present specimen has
chestnut-tipped feathers on parts of the body and wings as well. Contour
feathers tipped with chestnut are most priminent on the breast, lower
back, and upper tail coverts, where they produce a spotted and blotched
effect. Regions with a few chestnut-tipped feathers, or with a faint
suffusion of rusty on otherwise black barbs, include the upper back,
throat (mostly black), malar region, auriculars, and side of the neck.
The rump is uniformly black. Chestnut also appears prominently on the
tips of the greater and middle secondary coverts forming two incomplete
wing bars. The specimen is also unusual in having more rufous on the
white underparts. Rufous is prominent on the upper abdominal region as
well as on the sides and flanks where it is characteristic...."
As I see the photos of your bird, the head is entirely black, but there
is extensive "fox sparrow" colored rusty on the back, breast and flanks
(are there black flecks on the flank?); I see no indication of white on
the underparts or at the base of the primaries. I just don't think it
can be a towhee. Those of you who have had a chance to watch the
bird--what does it act like? In my (limited) experience Fox Sparrows are
noisy in winter--the often go into full song, but your bird may be a
female. The smack alarm note is distinctive. Don't you think that it is
too plump to be a towhee. Random and disorganized notes, these.
Also note that "wierd" birds are often strange in several ways. As a
graduate student I skinned a Red-tailed Hawk that a local farmer (in
eastern Kansas) had shot (because it with different) and brought to the
museum. This bird is what we would call a "partial albino," but is also
was only about 1/2 the size of a normal red-tail, as I recall. Have fun!
Name: Jim Rising
Mail: Dept. Zoology, Univ. Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5
rising@zoo.utoronto.ca or rising@zoo.toronto.edu
Phone (416) 978-3482 FAX (416) 978-8532
*******************************************
From mschultz@acpub.duke.eduWed Jan 15 08:19:47 1997
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 23:08:47 -0500 (EST)
From: "Michael P. Schultz" mschultz@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: J. Rising's comments
Dear Car. Birders:
I found Jim Risings comments about our mystery bird most interesting,
especially the description of an erythristic towhee. This made me
wonder, is it biologically possible to have a bird that is both melanistic
AND erythristic?? Think about all those black feathers with chestnut tips.
I also thought the comments on the abnormal measurments of an albino
Red-tail most appropriate. Could we be spinning our wheels worrying
about the exact size of this bird?
Mike Schultz
Durham, NC
mschultz@acpub.duke.edu
*******************************************
From wrapsinc@atl.mindspring.comWed Jan 15 11:17:59 1997
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 10:19:16 +0000
From: gilbert foster wrapsinc@atl.mindspring.com
To: Lois.Schultz@duke.edu
Subject: mystery bird
has anyone suggested a blue grosbeak?
*******************************************
From nbudnitz@mindspring.comWed Jan 15 13:49:08 1997
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 10:59:59 -0500
From: Norman Budnitz nbudnitz@mindspring.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: mystery bird
Has anybody had experience with Fox Sparrows at tray feeders? Do they get
up onto the feeder and give that characteristic
'scratch-scratch-scratch-search' behavior? My experience with this bird is
that it comes up through a shrub to the feeder, perches on the rail edge or
perhaps on the floor of the feeder, grabs a seed, and leaves. I never saw
it linger on the feeder to eat a seed and then grab another. I never saw it
scratch while on the feeder. Not once. Each visit lasted from 10-30
seconds. No more. The longer visits were mostly spent looking around
warily, not searching through the pile for a good seed.
Of course, my observations were limited to one warm morning when the bird
came to the feeder four times over the course of about three hours. IE, a
limited sample size.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norman Budnitz nbudnitz@mindspring.com
4115 Garrett Drive
Durham NC 27705
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend;
and inside a dog, it's too dark to read. (Groucho Marx)
*******************************************
From rkorpi@clark.eduWed Jan 15 13:49:46 1997
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 09:16:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Raymond Korpi rkorpi@clark.edu
To: Lois.Schultz@duke.edu
Subject: Mystery Bird
I looked at the photos (amazing!),
and I immediately thought the head of the bird looked like an Oregon
Junco. The color of the head and bill and the shape of the head
suggest this to me. The back of the bird is more problematic, but I
don't think it's a fox sparrow, the colors don't seem right. It's a
bit too brown in my estimation.
After several minutes looking at the photos, I read the
descriptions. I'd have to go with what Kenn Kaufman said actually
(giant bandwagon jumper that I am). I have been watching my Oregon
Juncos every day (in my yard and on campus) and the head of the birds
screams Oregon junco. It's very wonderful to have an opprtunity to
look at the pictures and I thank you for posting to Tweeters.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Korpi "A person is a person, no matter how small."
Hm: Portland, OR --Dr Seuss, "Horton Hears a Who"
Wk: Clark College
Vancouver, WA
rkorpi@clark.edu
*******************************************
From cwcook@acpub.duke.eduWed Jan 15 13:52:05 1997
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 13:04:26 -0500
From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: More mystery bird guesses
For those of you who don't have the mystery bird URLs, here they are again,
in alphabetical order:
http://users.southeast.net/~nwamer/mystery.htm
http://www.lib.duke.edu/bes/mystery/
http://www.rtpnet.org/~nhas/bird/myst/index.html
Will
*******************************************
Regarding the mystery sparrow, I believe the back shows characteristics
consistent with Fox Sparrow or even White-throated Sparrow and the head,
especially in photo 8, appears to be Dark-eyed Junco. I believe the bird
could be a hybrid Fox Sparrow x Dark-eyed Junco.
Allen Chartier
Inkster, MI
amazilia@aol.com
*******************************************
I lived on the east coast (Virginia) for only one year, so my
impressions are primarily from west coast birds (Oregon). Wow, this is
an interesting bird. The jizz to me speaks of only a few birds. These
are dark-eyed junco, rufous-sided towhee, Zonotrichia sparrows, and an
exotic bunting. I'll take your word for it that non-indigenous species
have been eliminated. The full-bellied look is remeniscent of junco and
towhee. The head being small relative to the body, combined with the notable
presence of a neck in most photos is very towhee-like. All the features
mentioned so far are also frequently normal for golden-crowned sparrow as well
(I realize this is an unusual species in the east). The bill is pretty
good-sized, seemingly larger than most Zono spp.
A third characteristic stands out strongly to me. That is the
position of the bill on the head (and/or the shape of the skull). The
bill is high on the front of the skull, leaving no forehead that is
distinct from the crown. This seems more remeniscent of some junco head
profiles, ...even like cowbird (perhaps cowbirds have moved to reproductive
parasitism rather than just nest parasitism; just kidding).
Towhees can sometimes look like this, but it seems just a bit too
extreme for towhees (but maybe not). This is also the source of the
inclusion of "exotic bunting" in my initial list. Oddly, again,
golden-crowned sparrows can also have this look.
The legs look a bit thin for towhee.
The birds seems too much like junco or towhee, both in shape and
plumage pattern to be ONLY of sparrow origin. But the stripes on the
back are obviously sparrow-like. Seems most likely to be a combination
from both groups, but I don't have an idea of which from each.
Neat bird. I'll be interested to see further discussion.
Matt Hunter
stpetrel@aol.com
Corvallis, OR
*******************************************
I enlarged the photos on the web, and was finally able to see the streaking
on the back. I also sized and aligned the each bird on the feeder, to
compare legs. From what I can tell, the mystery bird's tarsometatarsi do
look scrawy for a towhee. I believe a wing and culmen measurement, as well
as a band a size would provide conclusive evidence for specie or hybrid. I
wonder if a towhee would ever cross with a junco, or a junco with a fox
sparrow. Maybe such a drastic genetic breach would result in the melanistic
pigmentation.
Franchesca Perez
kika@mindspring.com
_____________________________________________________
Just a hunch, but what about some sort of a Junco hybrid?
Steve Moss
*******************************************
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 14:22:33 -0500
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: (Fwd) mystery sparrow
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 14:00:07 -0500
Reply-to: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification
BIRDWG01@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
From: David Sibley dsibley@PULSAR.NET
Subject: mystery sparrow
To: BIRDWG01@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
After a cursory study I'll cast a vote for White-throated Sparrow on the
North Carolina mystery bird. It is clearly not a normal plumage of any North
American bird (regular or vagrant) and no hybrid combination should produce
such a uniformly dark rufous and black bird. Therefore it must be an
abberrant plumage and most likely a common species. The overall shape, bill
size and shape, wing shape, and the few markings present on the greater
coverts all look right for White-throated Sparrow.
David Sibley
Cape May Point, NJ
*******************************************
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 15:22:37 -0800
From: Eric Henriksen ehenriksen@complianceservices.com
Subject: RE: Invitation to our mystery bird
This is going to sound dumb, but my first impression was a painted
bunting hybrid. It's probably bigger than that if folks are
suggesting towhee x WCSP hybrids. Oh well.
Eric Henriksen
Gig Harbor, WA
*******************************************
From osprey@nwinfo.netThu Jan 16 01:03:18 1997
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 16:15:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Denny Granstrand osprey@nwinfo.net
I saw your e-mail to "Tweeters" and looked at the photos at
your website. Have you considered a rosy finch? Perhaps one of the
darker forms of Black Rosy Finch or Brown Rosy Finch has a bit of a
color abnormality.
Please keep us posted.
Denny Granstrand
osprey@nwinfo.net
and Tweeters
*******************************************
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 00:02:12 -0500 (EST)
From: PGCoin@aol.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Fox sparrows at feeders
Norm and Carolina birds:
I had two Fox sparrows at my tray feeder for about 2 weeks during the 96 snow
storm era. The would not come up on the tray but hopped about below it,
picking seeds off the snow. The hung around minutes at a time below the tray
and they agressively defended the area against White-throated Sparrows.
Sounds like exactly the behavior described for the Mystery Bird.
Patrick Coin
Durham, NC
PGCoin@aol.com
*******************************************
Having looked briefly at the photos, my impression is that the bird is
some sort of Junco hybrid. I cannot make out enough details from the
images to be any more specific or even certain that my impression is
accurate.
The pale, pinkish bill, dark head, shape and tail of the bird all say
Junco to me.
cheers,
Don Cecile
dcecile@cln.etc.bc.ca
*******************************************
Subject: Re: Invitation to our mystery bird
That's what I thought as well. Kenn Kaufman had sent in comments and
had thought junco x white-throated sparrow a possibility. RK
On Sun, 2 Feb 1997, Don Cecile wrote:
> Having looked briefly at the photos, my impression is that the bird
is some sort of Junco hybrid. I cannot make out enough details from
the images to be any more specific or even certain that my
impression is accurate. The pale, pinkish bill, dark head, shape
and tail of the bird all say Junco to me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Korpi "A person is a person, no matter how small." Hm: Portland,
OR --Dr Seuss, "Horton Hears a Who" Wk: Clark College
Vancouver, WA
rkorpi@clark.edu
*******************************************
From: mpatters@orednet.org (Mike Patterson)
To: tweeters@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Invitation to our mystery bird
I say it's an escaped exotic. The bill looks very much like it
belongs to an Indigobird or one of the waxbills. I'm guessing that it's
probably under gone some selective breeding as well which would make
it difficult to find in an Asian or African bird book.
The exotic possibility is never very popular for some reason, and I
noticed the comment by James Rising that he originally thought it was
an escape then changed his mind when it returned for 2 winters. I'm
not sure how leaving (or appearing to leave) then returning
invalidated the escaped exotic hypothesis, but he seems to believe it
should.
The Junco x something is, I think, the only other likely hypothesis
and I was surprised to here that they regularly cross with
White-throats.
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
* mpatters@orednet.org *
*******************************************
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 10:33:37 -0500
From: FENCE fence@teleplex.net
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: "Mystery Bird"
To all Carolinabirders:
We all like puzzles, don't we? Just to add my two pennies (or cents)
to this issue of the "mystery sparrow". Talk of exotic/escaped african
finches keeps coming up. I have spent considerable time in Africa and
can only recall 2 species that fit the colour scheme of this bird. (We
are not talking behaviour, jizz etc at this time). These are the
Chestnut Weaver and the Chestnut Sparrow. The latter is uniform in
colouration, while the former, the weaver, superficially resembles
this "mystery bird" with a rich chestnut body and black head. Of
course no other part of the Chestnut Weaver, bill, tail etc comes
close to the Durham bird. Like any id, we have to consider not just
the colour, but also shape, behaviour etc.
Whether we crack this one or not, it's a lot of fun to theorise and
keep guessing!
Simon Thompson
*******************************************
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 11:18:23 -0500
From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: melanistic & erythristic
On Tue, 14 Jan 1997, Mike Schultz wrote:
> I found Jim Risings comments about our mystery bird most interesting,
> especially the description of an erythristic towhee. This made me
> wonder, is it biologically possible to have a bird that is both melanistic
> AND erythristic?? Think about all those black feathers with chestnut tips.
Last night I talked to Haven Wiley, ornithology professor at UNC-CH. He
thinks this bird is a melanistic *and* erythristic sparrow. He also
mentioned that White-throated Sparrows often have a distinctive call when
defending feeding territory from other White-throats. I've heard this, too,
but I can't remember it well enough to attempt to transcribe it. We need to
videotape this bird with the window open!
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7409
cwcook@acpub.duke.edu h 919-967-5446
Duke University Botany Dept., Durham, North Carolina
*******************************************
From griggs@math.sc.eduThu Jan 16 12:42:34 1997
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 11:27:21 -0500
From: Jerrold Griggs griggs@math.sc.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: The mystery continues
I'll chip in my two filler's worth and note the striking similarity
between the photos of the "mystery bird" and those of the Chestnut
Mannikin (a.k.a. Black-headed Munia) found in Hawaii. I believe this
bird is native to Indonesia and Southeast Asia. It was introduced to
Hawaii, of course. It has a rich chestnut color on the body with a black
head and a silver bill. However, to my eye it stands more upright,
less sparrow-like, than our puzzler. (This isn't the same as the Chestnut
Weaver mentioned by Simon Thompson, is it?) Whether it could survive in
the colder climate up here is not clear, either.
Speaking for the "Minority" (having learned that of the very few
S.C. members of the list, females are in the majority),
Jerry Griggs
Math Dept., U.S.C., Columbia, SC
*******************************************
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 14:11:16 -0500
From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: Fox sparrows at feeders
On Thu, 16 Jan 1997, Pat Coin wrote:
> I had two Fox sparrows at my tray feeder for about 2 weeks during the 96 snow
> storm era. They would not come up on the tray but hopped about below it,
> picking seeds off the snow. They hung around minutes at a time below the tray
> and they agressively defended the area against White-throated Sparrows.
> Sounds like exactly the behavior described for the Mystery Bird.
Well, not quite. I think many people have seen Fox Sparrows eating seeds off
the ground below a feeder, but has anyone seen one *on* an elevated platform
feeder? As far as I know, the mystery bird has not been observed feeding on
the ground (it probably does at times, but this isn't its common behavior).
It is often seen in bushes in the periphery of the yard and usually flies in
to a bush below the platform feeder before hopping onto the feeder. This
would be very weird behavior for a Fox Sparrow, but then, this is a very
weird bird!
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7409
cwcook@acpub.duke.edu h 919-967-5446
Duke University Botany Dept., Durham, North Carolina
*******************************************
From jhyman.wilson@mhs.unc.eduThu Jan 16 16:04:20 1997
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 2:58:26 -0500
From: "HYMAN, JEREMY" jhyman.wilson@mhs.unc.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Mystery Bird
Carolinabirders,
I found a few curious statements while briefly looking into the
literature on avain genetics and coloration.
>From "Avian Genetics: A population and ecological approach" by F. Cook
and P.A. Buckley, speaking about birds in general:
"...melanism and erythrism (excessive erythromelanin,a third,
chestnut-red melanin) often occur in the same individual" (p. 20-21)
>From Buckley's chapter in "Diseases of cage and Aviary Birds, 2nd
edition" by Petrak, 1982:
"Also, there is some evidence (e.g., Sage 1962) that melanics tend to be
above average in weight, size, hardiness, etc...." (p. 67)
The reference mentioned above is: Sage, B.L. 1962. Albinism and melanism
in birds. British Birds 55:201-225.
Someone might want to look at that article if they have the time.
-Jeremy Hyman
*******************************************
Dennis Paulson, author of "Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest" (or something
like that) lends his opinion:
_________________________________
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 09:20:01 +0000
From: Dennis Paulson dpaulson@ups.edu
To: cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: mystery bird
About your mystery bird: there's not much I can add to the lengthy
discussion except to counter the statement about Fox Sparrow bill
colors. In my experience, Fox Sparrows of all subspecies (or species)
have a dark bill with a mostly yellow lower mandible. I haven't seen
any differences (and we see all 3 of the putative species in
Washington), notwithstanding the paintings in some books and the
photos in the Audubon Master Guide.
The markings on the upperparts are definitely not like those found in
finches (Fringillidae), even though that large bill recalls that of a
finch, and it's unlikely that a fringillid and an emberizid would
hybridize.
The markings on the scapulars and coverts also eliminate Fox Sparrow
(unless as one of the parents of a hybrid with another sparrow with
that sort of marking). And I don't see the breast streaking as looking
particularly like that of a Fox Sparrow. The markings on the upperpart
indeed look like those on either Zonotrichia or Melospiza sparrows.
The bill really does look relatively large to me, and it's very
difficult to make the bird an aberrant individual of one of the
emberizines such as the White-throated that should be in the area.
Hybridization seems more likely, but the bird doesn't easily match any
hybrid pair. Junco x White-throat isn't illogical, but Mr. or Ms.
Mystery (I wouldn't declare the bird a male just because it has "rich
colors") definitely doesn't show either intermedicacy or a patchwork
of characters of those two species.
What it is will take some sophisticated reasoning indeed, and I can't
imagine a better idea than to capture the bird, carefully examine and
measure it, and pull out a few tail feathers that might yield some
important genetic data.
And, referring to Jim Rising's mention of erythristic towhees, a
friend of mine photographed a towhee (presumably Spotted) at her
feeder in Seattle this winter that was largely rufous, also much
black; not a trace of white on the belly or tail; red eyes. It showed
some rufous stripes on the black scapulars where the Spotted normally
has white stripes.
The originators of the World Wide Web probably never had a clue what
it would mean to the birding community!
Dennis Paulson
_________________________________
Date sent: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 09:38:18 +0000
From: Dennis Paulson dpaulson@ups.edu
To: cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: mystery bird
This discussion made me think of a neat idea. Maybe someone out there
will pick up on it.
Wouldn't it be interesting to have a book titled Hybrid Birds? Some
person with good museum connections and an artist as collaborator
could do nothing more than describe and illustrate all the known
interspecific hybirds in birds. What a fascinating bunch of color
plates! It would bring together a literature that is extremely
fragmented and be interesting not only to birders but evolutionary
biologists.
I expect 10% of the royalties....
Dennis Paulson
*******************************************
Date: 16 Jan 1997 21:02:59 -0000
From: R G thrush@hotmail.com
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: ...another crazy theory (mysterybird)
Someone can probably shoot this idea down right away but... :
Since some posters have noted mysterybird's similarity to cowbird, is it ever
possible for a cowbird fostered by a _______ sparrow (you fill in the blank),
or some other parents, to grow up "thinking" it is that species and actually
mate/produce young with such, resulting in our bird ? Any of the experts out
there know what the incidence/probability of cowbird hybridization is ?
(Granted, I can't imagine what it would cross with to produce this bird's color
scheme.) Which sparrows, buntings, finches, blackbirds, etc. do cowbirds most
often parasitize ?
Rob Gluck Chapel Hill thrush@hotmail.com
*******************************************
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 18:04:01 -0500
From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: melanism & erythrism
Here's some more on the mystery bird... I was going to include the message
I posted to birdwg01 (Frontiers of field ID) that these are a response to,
but I accidentally deleted it. Could someone please forward it to me? (Norm?)
By the way, Al Jaramillo, whose message is below, is the author of
the forthcoming book on New World blackbirds (Icterids) in the Seabirds
series.
Will
*******************************************
In a message dated 1/16/97 2:45:23 PM, Will Cook wrote:
>We got several comments that suggested the bird might be some sort of
escaped exotic African or Asian species, such as Chestnut Weaver or
Chestnut Munia.
In my opinion, the bird in the mystery photo isn't even close,
morphologically or by color or pattern. You are right, I think, that this is
clearly an American Emberizid. I can find no species of Eurasian bunting in
field guides (i.e., Russian and Chinese field guides) that match. Nothing in
the Helm (?) guide on Sparrows and Buntings is a match either!
Allen Chartier
Inkster, MI
amazilia@aol.com
*******************************************
Just a small point. If this bird is a melano, I doubt that the soft part
colours would change from those of the parent species. The bird shows a
greyish bill, not the orange/yellow based bill of a Fox Sparrow. If you can
find information on the effect melanism has on soft parts you may be able to
use this to exclude Fox Sparrow and to suggest White-throat.
Regards,
Al.
Alvaro Jaramillo Where there's smoke doesn't mean
Half Moon Bay, CA there is fire.
alvaro@quake.net Just means there's smoke.
http://www.quake.net/~alvaro/index.html
*******************************************
To: tweeters@u.washington.edu
Subject: rufous towhee
At the last WOS meeting, Judy Roan showed photos of what was
presumably a largely rufous Spotted Towhee that appeared briefly in
her yard. Apparently such individuals have been seen with some
frequency in the past, at least in the East. Here is a published
description of one. (Judy, if you read this, would you let me know?).
"On 3 June 1968 I collected a first-year male...Rufous-sided Towhee on
its territory in Piscataway Township, Middlesex County, New
Jersey....The specimen is unique in the extent of chestnut and rufous
in its plumage, and is unquestionably an erythristic form....Feathers
on the crown and occiput are broadly tipped (distal one-quarter) with
chestnut and black basally. The forehead bears fewer chestnut-tipped
feathers. Overall the effect is a distinct chestnut cap only a little
less complete (black present) than that found in pure ocai. [Pipilo
ocai is the Collared Towhee of southern Mexico]
"Unlike other partly chestnut towhee specimens reported in the
literature where the color is restricted to the pileum, the present
specimen has chestnut-tipped feathers on parts of the body and wings
as well. Contour feathers tipped with chestnut are most priminent on
the breast, lower back, and upper tail coverts, where they produce a
spotted and blotched effect. Regions with a few chestnut-tipped
feathers, or with a faint suffusion of rusty on otherwise black barbs,
include the upper back, throat (mostly black), malar region,
auriculars, and side of the neck. The rump is uniformly black.
Chestnut also appears prominently on the tips of the greater and
middle secondary coverts forming two incomplete wing bars. The
specimen is also unusual in having more rufous on the white
underparts. Rufous is prominent on the upper abdominal region as well
as on the sides and flanks where it is characteristic...."
Those of you who checked the web site for the odd sparrow found in
Durham, NC, might have already seen this.
Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail
dpaulson@ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html
*******************************************
On Sun, 2 Feb 1997, Don Cecile wrote:
> Having looked briefly at the photos, my impression is that the bird
is some
> sort of Junco hybrid. I cannot make out enough details from the
images to
> be any more specific or even certain that my impression is accurate.
>
> The pale, pinkish bill, dark head, shape and tail of the bird all
say Junco
> to me.
Yeah, I thought so, too... I posted the invitation over on
Ornitho-QC--> maybe they'll have some unique input to add.
My question is: with hybrids such as this (Or any bird, I suppose,
which defies ID by observation), how does one find out for sure what
species the bird is? I realize this may be basic ornithology, but I'm
interested in finding out what methods exist to identify a bird with
great confidence. If you feel it's better not repeated or exists
somewhere in a FAQ, please respond to myself only.
Thanks!
-Pat
scott931@uidaho.edu
*******************************************
On
Thu Jan 16 12:42:14 1997
From: scott931@uidaho.edu (Patrick Scott)
wrote:
My question is: with hybrids such as this (Or any bird, I suppose,
which defies ID by observation), how does one find out for sure what
species the bird is? I realize this may be basic ornithology, but I'm
interested in finding out what methods exist to identify a bird with
great confidence. If you feel it's better not repeated or exists
somewhere in a FAQ, please respond to myself only.
*******************************************
I also have been curious about this -- if one has the bird in-hand, is
there some kind of DNA analysis, or what? that happens -- I vaguely
remember reading about birds wh/ were xx% Glaucous-winged, or some
such -- is this really measurable, or was this some sort of stochastic
guesswork?
Alan Richards / alanr@orednet.org
*******************************************
It should be possible (in theory) to obtain a sample of blood (I don't
dare suggest we "sacrifice" NC's bird) and extract the appropriate
genetic markers. From these it would be possible to determine
parentage. A really cool Nova special was able to use genetic marker
to prove (and disprove) relationship to the Sundance Kid. If these
marker can be used to obtain these fine tuned relationships, it should
be no problem establish hybrid relationships at the Genus level.
As to GW x West etc. Gulls (Northern Pink-footed Gull complex), get
yourself a copy of _Condor_ August 1996 [98(3):527-45]. It discusses
the methodology for establishing degree of parentage. One of the most
interesting conclusions is that the middle of the hybrid cline between
Western to the south and GW to the north is pretty much dead-on the
Columbia Estuary/Willapa Bay. Right about where Alan Richards and I
do most of our gull watching (aren't we lucky?)
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
* mpatters@orednet.org *
* blackbirds.
*http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters*
*******************************************
In answer to Pat's question, while molecular techniques may not always
be necessary or useful, there are some sticky cases in which they have
proved uniquely able to provide a concrete answer to the question
"What the *&^( is that?"
A terrific example of this is the case of Cox's Sandpiper, a very rare
bird in the genus _Calidris_. Cox's was described as a new species in
1982, but despite suspicions that it might be a hybrid, no agreement
existed as to whether or not it was a hybrid, or even who the parents
would have been if it was a hybrid. Nominees for parental species
included Pectoral, Curlew, and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, and also Ruff.
In the August 1996 issue of the Condor, L. Christidis, K. Davies, M.
Westerman, P. Christian and R. Schodde published an article titled
"Molecular assesment of the taxonomic status of Cox's Sandpiper."
They looked at mitochondrial DNA sequences and allozyme (variable
protein) differences and - it's a hybrid! The parental species are
Pectoral and Curlew Sandpipers, as was originally suggested, and,
what's more, the authors were able to deduce that for all of the three
specimens of Cox's Sandpiper collected for the study, the Curlew
Sandpiper was the mother, and the Pectoral Sandpiper was the father.
As to Alan Richards's question about being able to say that a certain
individual big pink-footed gull is X percent Glaucous winged and X
percent Western, I doubt that was done by screening the DNA, because
of the difficulty and expense of finding suitable genetic markers.
Probably someone had laid out specimens of pure Westerns, pure
Glaucous-wings, and intermediates along the spectrum. If an observer
could judge, for several plumage or structural characters, where along
the spectrum the bird in question fell, then very likely you could
make a guess as to what percent Glaucous-winged genes it had.
I'd point out that laying out specimens and examining characters is no
less valid than looking directly at the DNA: as long as the characters
are inherited it's the same thing, really. And it's a heck of a lot
cheaper.
So with the mystery bird that started this discussion, mist-netting,
photographing and measuring the bird might provide sufficient evidence
to decide what it is. If not, then probably you could get a
definitive answer from looking at DNA and other molecular markers.
If anyone is ambitious and curious enough, look up the two articles
below. While the first is largely molecular and the second largely
focussed on plumage differences, both articles use all available
clues, molecular and structural, to analyze hybrids.
Christidis, L., K. Davies, M. Westerman, P. D. Christian, and
R. Schodde. 1996. Molecular assessment of the taxonomic status of
Cox's Sandpiper. Condor 98: 459-463.
Rohwer, S. 1994. Two new hybrid _Dendroica_ warblers and new
methodology for inferring parental species. Auk 111: 441-449.
Chris Hill
Everett, WA
cehill@u.washington.edu
*******************************************
From: Tim Shelmerdine Shelmert@mail.clackesd.k12.or.us
Upon seeing these photos today for the first time, my impressions are
immediately of a junco hybrid, probably with White-throated Sparrow.
As a western birder, this is not a sparrow species I am intimately
familiar with, but I believe the mystery'bird's back pattern would fit
this combination.
The overall shape of the bird strongly indicate "junco," as do the
bill and head shape and color.
Fun pictures.
Good birding,
Tim
*******************************************
From: David Sibley dsibley@pulsar.net
Dear Will,
More comments on the mystery sparrow. I guess people are posting elsewhere or
responding directly to you so I'll do that rather than post on IDFrontiers. I
chose White-throated Sparrow over Fox Sparrow because of bill shape and wing
shape. I think fox sparrow has a distinctive bill shape with the upper
mandible seeming small or short so that the bill looks a little uptilted. Fox
sparrow also has relatively long wings with long primary projection and
emarginations on the outer primaries relatively farther from the base than on
white-throated. In all of these respects I think the mystery bird looks like
White-throated rather than Fox. Hope this is of interest.
David Sibley
*******************************************
... and here's the message I sent to birdwg01 yesterday:
Subject: Re: melanism & erythrism
I think the Durham mystery sparrow may be so weird because it's both
melanistic *and* erythristic. Little, if any, of the plumage pattern of the
parent species remains, replaced by a pattern that makes it look like some
exotic species. Has anyone on this list encountered an erythristic bird or
one that was both melanistic and erythristic?
What about the coloration of bare parts on melanistic birds -- is it usually
unaffected? The mystery sparrow's legs are a sort of dusky flesh color. The
iris is brown and the bill is shiny dark gray. Could these colors be affected
by melanism or erythrism?
Comments from birdwiggers (how do you pronounce birdwg01 anyway?),
birdchatters, and others are posted at a couple of the web sites. Jim
Rising's interesting comments reference an erythristic E. Towhee in Jon
Greenlaw's 1973 note in Auk 90:428-29.
(Just got a message from Dennis Paulson: "...referring to Jim Rising's
mention of erythristic towhees, a friend of mine photographed a towhee
(presumably Spotted) at her feeder in Seattle this winter that was largely
rufous, also much black; not a trace of white on the belly or tail; red eyes.
It showed some rufous stripes on the black scapulars where the Spotted
normally has white stripes.")
We got several comments that suggested the bird might be some sort of escaped
exotic African or Asian species, such as Chestnut Weaver or Chestnut Munia.
There are a few problems with this theory. One is that the bird is migratory,
which stongly suggests, but doesn't prove, it isn't an exotic. Another is that
while the coloration is vaguely similar to these species, the shape is not.
*All* the observers of this bird feel that the shape and jizz is right for
Eberizinae. The argument between observers has been whether its shape and
jizz is most similar to a White-throated or a Fox Sparrow. Some of the
observers have seen both the exotics I mentioned above and noted little
similarity to this bird.
Here are the mystery sparrow URLs again:
http://users.southeast.net/~nwamer/mystery.htm
http://www.lib.duke.edu/bes/mystery/
http://www.rtpnet.org/~nhas/bird/myst/index.html
Let us know what you think!
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7409
cwcook@acpub.duke.edu h 919-967-5446
Duke University Botany Dept., Durham, North Carolina
*******************************************
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 15:52:55 -0500 (EST)
From: "Kevin J. McGowan" kjm2@cornell.edu
What an interesting bird! Although I don't know what it is, I can comment
on what it is not.
First, bill shape, posture, and tail length rule out the exotics mentioned.
It does indeed appear to be an Emberizine "finch." Munias are tiny birds,
about the size of a chickadee, but with a shorter tail. Weavers also have
pretty short tails.
I think that Fox Sparrow can be ruled out by virture of bill shape. The
base of the lower mandible in Fox Sparrows is approximately the same depth
(or greater) as the base of the upper mandible. This feature, combined with
the straight to up-turned culmen, gives Fox Sparrows an up-turned bill look.
Clearly the mystery bird does not have this, but instead has a slightly
down-curved culmen and commissure (or at least the superior tomium).
Zonotrichia sparrows are brought to mind by the overall jizz. Only the
White-throated approaches the mystery bird in bill shape, and even it is too
straight-culmened to quite match. Is the apparent facial pattern real? It
looks to me from several of the photos that the White-throat pattern is
there, but with black instead of white. The black stripes on the back match
too.
The overall jizz also fits towhee, as does bill shape and the colors
involved. The slight curvature of the culmen and commissure can be matched
by that of "Rufous-sided" Towhees. Where the black stripes on the back come
from is another matter. Although the central Mexican form has some black
stripes on the upper back (at least one of our specimens does), they don't
quite match the pattern shown by the mystery bird.
I would love to watch the bird myself, as I suspect behavior and direct
comparison with other species would be informative. I wouldn't mind having
the carcass in hand to compare with specimens, but then my bias is showing.
I hope some measurements do get taken, and I wouldn't mind some more pictures.
So, how about a melanistic *and* erythristic *and* hybrid bird? Nothing
here is a perfect match for anything else that I can tell. Hybridization
can do some very odd things!
Best of luck in trying to figure this bird out.
Cheers,
Kevin
Kevin J. McGowan
Associate Curator of Birds & Mammals
Cornell Vertebrate Collections 607/257-8135
Section of Ecology & Systematics fax 607/254-8143
Corson Hall, Cornell University kjm2@cornell.edu
Ithaca, NY 14853-2701
*******************************************
Date sent: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 14:19:37 -0800
From: robert augustine raugustine@aspensys.com
A couple of comments on the mystery bird. I think whatever its species
must be, the black hood must be explained. A white-throated sparrow even if
subject to some kind of schizochroism would show some kind of head pattern. I
strongly suspect the bird is a towhee, which would account for the hood.
Notwithstanding this, why has no one suggested an aberrant Harris' Sparrow? At
any rate, as the weather warms some vocalization could be expected, perhaps
even during a temporary warming this month. Furthermore, one could play tapes
of various species and watch carefully for reactions. I would urge caution,
however, since I once got a wintering Harris' Sparrow to respond to a
White-Crown song.
Again, I favor Towhee, but I am troubled by the bill color and
behavioral notes (no scratching) and the back and chest markings. It's
certainly a most interesting bird, and I am grateful for the opportunity to
"virtually" see it via the Internet
*******************************************
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 13:42:05 -0500 (EST)
From: PGCoin@aol.com
Subject: mytstery bird photos-size
Well, I am going to officially eat crow on size comparisons in the mystery
bird photos taken by Norm Budnitz. I just spent the morning at the
Kohn/Conyers feeder and was able to try out focusing on different points at
the feeder with my 400 mm lens. If Norm's optics and camera location were
similar to mine, I don't see much change in magnification between focusing at
the points corresponding to towhee (frame 02) and MB (frame 04) in Norm's
photos. (Both of these are on the New Hope Audubon web site,
http://www.rtpnet.org/~nhas/ ) With that said, I measured the tail length,
tarsi length, and neck thickness of the two birds. On these measures, MB is
smaller than the towhee by 10-15%. I'll post the comparisons to the web site
later today.
We did get two brief looks at MB this morning (Sunday 1/19/97), but it
failed to come right up to the feeder. We did get a great view of a Cooper's
Hawk which attacked the feeder unsuccessfully and then perched in the yard
for 5 minutes. Many, many, thanks to Roger and Ramona for their hospitality.
Ken Lundstrom showed us some of his recent photos--very nice. I'll put some
on the NHAS web page if anybody will send me digitized versions.
Patrick Coin
Eating crow, certainly not for the first time, in
Durham, NC
PGCoin@aol.com
*******************************************
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 97 21:46:09 EST
From: Kent Fiala SASKLF@VM.SAS.COM
Subject: Another thought on Mystery Bird
Don't take me too seriously on this, but I can't help being intrigued by
the illustrations of Gray Bunting in Rising's book. What would an
erythristic Gray Bunting look like? It's too bad the bill color is wrong,
and that the first-winter male looks browner than an adult.
*******************************************
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 11:40:38 -0500
From: EMILY J DEVOTO edevoto@gibbs.oit.unc.edu
Subject: Re: Mystery Bird
My $.02...
I find this story fascinating, and have also spent some
time flipping through my field guide for birds resembling the
Mystery Bird. It's a lot of fun to think about!
I liked Kent's and Will's ideas about the Grey Bunting.
With regard to hypotheses like this about a bird that
would be way out of its normal range AND of aberrant coloration,
wouldn't the combined probability of these two (at least somewhat)
unlikely events predict an event that's really extremely unlikely?
Or would, perhaps, an aberrantly colored bird be so thoroughly
shunned by its peers that it would be more likely to be on its own
and migrating to strange places? :-)
That being said, I don't have any new ideas of my own! I am
personally somewhere between the camps of melanistic/erythriistic
towhee and M/E junco, and wouldn't rule out a hybrid either.
Emily DeVoto
Chapel Hill, NC
*******************************************
From wthrel@auracom.comWed Jan 22 09:16:50 1997
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 09:34:53 -0400 (AST)
From: William Threlfall wthrel@auracom.com
To: Lois.Schultz@duke.edu
Cc: mtove@intercenter.net
Subject: Mystery bird
Dear Lois,
Many thanks for the FAX that finally reached me. I am no longer at
Memorial University having retired last December. I am now living in Truro,
Nova Scotia and teaching at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. With
regard to the bird description that you sent I would tend to agree that it
may be a melanistic Fox Sparrow. I did try and access the pictures but was
unable (through my server) to get a look at them, so my comment is based
purely on the written description. Did anyone else come up with any ideas?
Regards, Bill Threlfall (Professor Emeritus)
*******************************************
From nljsharp@worldnet.att.netMon Jan 27 11:09:34 1997
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 23:00:53 -0500
From: NLJ Sharp nljsharp@worldnet.att.net
To: Carolina birds email carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Mystery Bird
While getting ready to use my new Thayer's Birds of North America 2.0,
the first bird to appear was a very red Aberts's Towhee (after looking
the bird up in my field quide I found out it is quite a bit browner than
it appeared in the Thayer's picture). From what I read on bird Erythrism
and Melanism. The birds plumage would have a higher degree of chesnut
and rufous in it. Also, I remember reading somewear in the massive
amount of email on this bird that a melanistic bird would this would be
larger and heavier than normal. The Albert's Towhee at 9 inches is
slightly larger than the Eastern Towhee. One question left to answer is
how the bird got so out of range from Arizona.
Linda Sharp
Greenville, SC
nljsharp@worldnet.att.net
*******************************************
From Harry_LeGrand@mail.ehnr.state.nc.usMon Jan 27 11:18:07 1997
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 08:56:19 -0500
From: Harry LeGrand Harry_LeGrand@mail.ehnr.state.nc.us
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Mystery bird
This is my first effort at commenting on the mystery bird. I have now
received four color prints of the bird from Ken Lundstrom.
Basically, it sure looks like a "full-blooded" (with a little extra
black and rust) White-throated Sparrow to me. The overall shape,
horizontal posture, flattish crown, black stripes on the back, etc,
say WTS to me. The bill seems a little more pale-colored than the the
typical horn color, but the bird's jizz says WTS.
I can't recall from previous correspondences whether other WTS were on
the feeder. I hope so. I would hate for all of the WTS in the yard
to stay only on the ground or in the bushes, and this bird feed at the
feeder. That wouldn't seem right! Of course, WTS is a well-known to
inhabit feeders.
Harry LeGrand
Raleigh, NC
harry_legrand@mail.ehnr.state.nc.us
*******************************************
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 12:05:39 -0500 (EST)
From: "Michael P. Schultz" mschultz@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Harry's mystery ID
Hi all:
Awh come-on Harry, can't you grant us more than just "a little more
black and rust"!!?? I still think melano-erythristic has a nice ring to it.
And yes indeed there are other White-throats on the feeder.
Mike Schultz
Durham, NC
mschultz@acpub.duke.edu
*******************************************
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 19:53:07 -0500
From: Roger Kohn avocet@mindspring.com
To: carolinabirds carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: Harry's mystery ID
At 12:05 PM 1/27/97 -0500, Mike Schultz wrote:
>Hi all:
>
> Awh come-on Harry, can't you grant us more than just "a little more
>black and rust"!!?? I still think melano-erythristic has a nice ring to it.
> And yes indeed there are other White-throats on the feeder.
Quite a few as a matter of fact. Furthermore fox sparrows are frequent
visitors to the yard (5 at one time about a week ago) but _never_ has there
been one on the feeder. I still haven't heard anyone say definitively that
they _have_ seen fox sparrows at a feeder. Has anyone? Also, am I the only
one who thinks that the pronounced brown iris on Mystery Bird is a strike
against the fox sparrow possibility? Relative to most folks on this mailing
list, I'm a novice but I think these things are significant. On the other
hand, we've never seen Mystery Bird scratching around on the ground with
other white-throats. And we spend a lot of time looking. Go figure.
By the way, Mystery Bird is still in town (as of this morning) but he has
not been hanging around much. I think he's cheating on us. Questionable
morals. Probably part cowbird.
Stay cool... - rlk
Roger Kohn
Durham, NC
avocet@mindspring.com
*******************************************
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 21:38:20 -0500
From: "HYMAN, JEREMY" jhyman.wilson@mhs.unc.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Fox at feeders
Hello all,
This afternoon at Mason Farm, our Avian Biology class did a little
trapping and banding. These traps, which you may have seen, consist of
treadle traps set on a flat platform. The traps are baited with
birdseed. The platform is usually 3-4 feet off the ground.
Anyway, we caught quite a few fox sparrows. So, at Mason Farm at least,
fox sparrows do come to feeders.
Jeremy Hyman
Chapel Hill, NC
jhyman.wilson@mhs.unc.edu
*******************************************
Here's Jon Greenlaw's opinion...
From: jsg@iline.com
To: cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
Date: 29 Jan 1997 06:29:22 EST
Subject: Re: Erythristic Eastern Towhee
Will,
Thanks for providing a nice array of photos on your NC mystery
emberizine. The different views and comparisons help greatly. I am not
too surprised that few are willing to commit on this bird. This
individual plumage variant is very unusual, and thus beyond the
experience of most birders. A person with museum (skin) experience on
emberizines, & conversant w/ technical lit. (as Jim Rising is) would
know this bird, so be assured that Jim's assessment, tho' properly
cautious, was entirely correct. I am less cautious. You ARE dealing
with an "erythristic" (modified melanins" male Eastern Towhee. Consider
it a very firm hypothesis, and for those who like to test hypotheses,
listen for its species-characteristic calls and song (a Lisp, the
Chewink, song of course, even a long soliloquy that contains diagnostic
calls).
1. Hybrid-origin hypothesis? Not at all likely. As others point out,
no likely or conceivable pairing of parental types among NA emberizines
could account for the combination of color, black/chestnut mosaic
pattern, and bill shape/size without ALSO postulating plumage aberrancy
---this is not a parsimonious explanation. In particular,
Junco-Zonotrichia hybrids do not at all resemble this mystery bird. A
nonhybrid scenario leaves us with a very atypical individual of an
otherwise FAMILIAR bird. That is the crux of the puzzle.
2. Why towhee? Apart from 1 0r 2 niggling details (tail length/shape,
eye color ---more below), everything that I see fits Eastern Towhee:
shape of bill (relatively heavy, conspicuously but moderately curved
culmen, size of bill relative to head), size and robustness of legs and
feet, the subtle matter of "holistic impression" = "jizz": how bird
stands, holds its tail, head-bill shape), and most especially the MOSAIC
of chestnut (the particular hue of "brown" is a detail that to me is
strongly reminiscent of my NJ specimen) and black on the body, including
its occurrence in otherwise white feathering on abdomen. Such a mosaic
is NOT unexpected in an erythristic specimen.
I should add that the strategy of analyzing each particular detail of
color and pattern can be very misleading in this case --- because of
variability in the degree and location of black & chestnut coloration in
different birds. Yet, since the towhee is a "sparrow", a tendency for
scapular "stripiness" may be deep-seated & reflect itself even in the
expression of color in an aberrant plumage.
Other assessments mention contraindications to towhee ID in eye color
("brwon"), tail length/tip shape (too short, not rounded), and body
size. Some of these characters are inadequately documented in the
photos, and others (body size, tail length) are very subjective. A
small towhee (smallest occur in the NE coastal states, ie. shortest
wings, lightest body mass, smallest bill) can be about the size of a
large White-throat (but not quite; still an impression can be
judgmental). How the bird carries its feathers, whether feather on body
or crown are fluffed, can change the profile of the bird. Tail length
on towhees is quite variable; in a series of male spec. (NE U.S.) that I
measured recently, the shortest length was about 15 mm shorter than the
longest (nearly 15% diff. relative to longest tail). Without the white
spots at the rec tips, the rounded shape of tail tip is less obvious &
could be overlooked. In all phots the tail is folded, or a bit out of
focus. Eye color? The angle of light is critical. I would expect
"red" in a 2+ yr bird, but the modified melanin pigment may affect iris
color as well. The phots are equivocal on this matter too.
3.Specimen & reports of towhees that approach the plumage-character
profile of the mystery bird are KNOWN. Jim R gives the Auk ref. See
also E.W. Vickers, Wilson Bull, no. 75 (no vol. #): 132, 1911, entitled
provocatively "The chocolate towhee"; L. Farber, Kingbird 33(1):34, 1983
(unusual plumage crosses Prebasic molt).
4. What about White-throat, Fox Sparrow, etc.? The shape/size of bill,
especially relative to head of bird, and robustness of legs & feet in
combo discount these.
5. Suggestion? Somebody should get into the field, watch & listen,
follow the bird around a little. The bird will tell you its name.
May all your birds be as good as this one.
Jon
Jon Greenlaw
*******************************************
Subject: Mystery Bird
Here's two more cents on "Silent Sam" the mystery bird. Ricky Davis saw the
bird the other day and offered his expert opinion that it's a weird bird,
but he wouldn't commit as to which sparrow he thought it might be. If you
just joined us, take a look at the photos on the web and let us know what
you think. The URLs are:
http://users.southeast.net/~nwamer/mystery.htm
http://www.lib.duke.edu/bes/mystery/
http://www.rtpnet.org/~nhas/bird/myst/index.html
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: LTJaeger@aol.com
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 00:16:59 -0500 (EST)
To: cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Mystery Bird
Okay, I wasn't going to comment because I haven't studied the photos in
detail, nor have I done a serious comparision with various sparrows and
finches, but since no one else listed (Kauffman, Paulson, etc.) had the same
thoughts as I, I may as well put my two cents in.....
To me, the bird is an obvious hybrid, and I feel strongly that its a Lark
Bunting X who-knows-what. The dark head, bill shape and bill color are
almost perfect for Lark Bunting.
As far as the cross....the reddish tones on the back almost suggest something
like House Sparrow (sorry!!), but it seems like between the Bunting and the
House Sparrow, some sort of white in the coverts would appear. Additionally,
the tail IS long.....maybe a Rufous-crowned Sparrow???
Junco/?? was my original thought, but closer examination made me rule out the
junco. The bill is just too large.
I'd love to hear more discussion/information on this bird. Please e-mail me
if you can, and I'd also like to hear feedback on my ideas....
Thanks,
Clay Kempf
(LTJaeger@AOL.com)
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7409
cwcook@acpub.duke.edu h 919-967-5446
Duke University Botany Dept., Durham, North Carolina
**********************************************************
From 35EDEVOTO@SOPHIA.SPH.UNC.EDUMon Mar 10 13:51:28 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 09:51:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Emily DeVoto 35EDEVOTO@SOPHIA.SPH.UNC.EDU
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: re. Mystery Bird
How do we know it's not "Silent Susan" rather than "Silent Sam"?
Wouldn't a female be more likely to be silent at this time of
year anyway? :-)
Emily DeVoto
Chapel Hill, NC
35edevoto@sophia.sph.unc.edu
*******************************************
From cwcook@acpub.duke.eduTue Mar 11 09:24:01 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 16:55:16 -0500
From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu
Subject: Re: Mystery Bird
On Mon, 10 Mar 1997, Emily DeVoto wrote:
> How do we know it's not "Silent Susan" rather than "Silent Sam"?
Well, Sam can stand for Samantha as well as for Samuel, right? "Silent Sam"
is the nickname of a statue on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill.
*******************************************
Here's another message on the M.B. that hasn't already been sent to
Carolinabirds. By the way, Roger says he has now seen (briefly) a Fox
Sparrow at the platform feeder (don't think it ate anything, though).
Date sent: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 12:44:46 -0500
To: "Will Cook" cwcook@acpub.duke.edu
From: Roger Kohn avocet@mindspring.com
Subject: Mystery Bird
Have seen Mystery Bird numerous times this weekend in the bush, on the
feeder, and on the ground for the first time(s). He has been scratching
around with juncos, white-throats, towhees, and a fox sparrow. He does a
two-legged scratch just like the fox and white-throated sparrows. Fox
sparrows seem to be more intense in their scratching (they do it almost
constantly) but otherwise their style is much the same as the
white-throated. Mystery Bird is not an incessant scratcher. Obviously, his
aggressive behavior towards white-throats has moderated.
I did not catch him really close to the fox sparrow so I cannot compare the
sizes directly. However he was near white-throats scores of times. Mystery
Bird is larger than most of them but very slightly smaller than one that we
saw. Edith Tatum, who saw him this morning, concurs on this last point.
Ken Lundstrom's photos show him in a puffed up state; he is not that pudgy.
Just some thoughts based upon recent observations. Stay cool... - rlk
Roger Kohn
Durham, NC
avocet@mindspring.com
******************************************* Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 12:29:16 -0400 From: Will Cook cwcook@acpub.duke.edu To: carolinabirds@acpub.duke.edu Subject: The Mystery Bird is back! Carolinabirders, For those of you that missed the Durham Mystery Bird last winter, it's back at Roger Kohn's yard for a third winter! You can take a look at photos and read all about it at three web sites, which have links from my web page: http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook . If you want to try to see it in person, contact Roger at (919)403-9305 or ROGER@phoenixhecht.com ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: ROGER@phoenixhecht.com (Roger Kohn) To: cwcook@acpub.duke.edu Date: Mon, 27 Oct 1997 08:50:17 +0000 Subject: he's back As of this morning, Mystery Bird is back. And since he appeared this early and in the company of the first group of white-throats I have seen in my yard this year, I think we can close the books on this fellow's identity. Stay cool... - rlk *******************************************
Lois Schultz
Duke University
Durham, NC USA