sanddog

A quick followup. These were visually confirmed yesterday as Swamp Sparrows. They were in the same location with a few Song and one White-Throated, and several were making the same type of call.

I guess we can wrap this up? There might be someone who still disagrees but I think my evidence is pretty solid. Merlin is useful and mostly accurate but still noticeably imperfect. When it can tell a semi-distant Red-eyed Vireo from a PhiladeIphia, then I'll be flabbergasted. I think of this app as an evolving beta version which will no doubt get better over time. I also think that my recording would be useful to add. And, no offense to anyone, but I never said they were "chip notes", they're obviously NOT chip notes. Seems that anyone who knows anything about sparrows would be aware that most species have a wide variety of calls, with fall juveniles making the variability even greater. It's also interesting to me that while these recorded calls are similar, the frequency pitch varies among individuals in my recording and in other recordings. So the sonograms will display a variance as well, but recognizable signatures.

Both.

Here's perhaps a better example from xeno canto, where it's described as a "dzeet" call. Sounds a match to my ears. https://xeno-canto.org/604025

No suggestion for an alternative? I saw that they were sparrows along the edge of a marsh, and I neglected to mention that they didn't pump their tails when flying, and to me appeared slightly too large to be Chipping Sparrows. In Maine that leaves very few options, and local birders know this is a great spot for Swamp Sparrows. Additionally there are at least 5 recordings of Swamp Sparrows (by different birders) on xeno canto that match mine to a tee, and you can call it "generic", whatever that means, but it's certainly loud and clear enough to hear several of the sparrows that were giving the call. You said nothing concrete that gives me any indication that they are not Swamp Sparrows, and again I refer you to xeno canto's database.

cf: https://xeno-canto.org/337069 What is it then, Hasan? There are several more Swamp Sparrow recordings that match the one above on xeno canto, all categorized as flight calls. These birds were feeding on the ground and making the same call, in a spot where Swamp Sparrows are the most commonly found. There are several of them calling in my recording. eBird hasn't removed my ID or contacted me about it after several days, so I'm sticking with it unless someone can correct me.

While not found at All About Birds, xeno canto lists this as a Swamp Sparrow's flight call. These birds, however, were feeding on the ground. So must be a not so common SWSP call. Anyway, I've got it. Thanks everyone.

Hi everyone. These passerines, which appeared to be sparrows, were on the ground at a sandy road edge near an open marsh in southwestern Maine. No clear field marks, as I was driving, but I got a decent recording. Apparently the call isn't in Merlin's database, as it ID's as Spotted Flycatcher. The spot is dense with Swamp Sparrows in breeding season but (assuming these are juveniles) they don't sound like Swamp to me. Song and Chipping are also very common in this location. Thanks for any help. Recording_1077 (Sparrow).wav

Case closed...thanks guys!

I've been reading about the species and it says they leap to grasp seed heads. That's exactly what it was doing near the bird bath that caught my attention in the first place. So cool to see this bird in Maine.

Thank you Blackburnian & IKLland. It's been reported to eBird and is still awaiting confirmation. From these pics can anyone tell me what sex/life stage this bird is? And does it appear to be gathering these dandelion seeds as nesting material, or just eating them? Here's another photo from yesterday.

Hmmm, thanks Blackburnian. I will get this to eBird. I have a bunch more photos. Unfortunately it was getting dark so none are high quality. These others show different angles. If it was a Painted Bunting would it be gathering nesting materials? Incidentally Painted Buntings do get reported in Maine almost every year, but yes they are a rarity for certain, and I've never seen one. It appeared to be picking up the dandelion seeds as if gathering nest materials (rather than eating them), but I suppose I could be wrong since I've never witnesses the way Buntings feed.

This just showed up near my bird bath and I'm stumped. Warbler-like in its appearance and behavior, yet its bill is finch or sparrow-like. Mostly gray, faint Blackpoll Warbler-like striping on its greenish yellow-tinged back. The photos don't show the triangle-like pattern on the back, which reminded me of a dull female Pine Warbler. Whitish vent (no yellow), no hint of wing bars, no eye ring. And gathering nesting materials off the ground for several minutes, while accompanied by Chipping Sparrows which it was close in size to. It's like the field marks all cancel each other out for anything obvious. Thanks for any help with this puzzler.

Awesome, thanks people.

Thanks for your reply. It was still light out, sunset is after 8 here this time of year. To my ears it didn't sound like the typical "chway" Hermit call but it was somewhat windy and in a spot where they frequent in breeding season, coming from a tree. You're probably correct but I'd like to see if anyone can second the Hermit ID?