Which Sparrow?

[ejpete]

This seemed like a young bird when it visited the feeders and I am just not sure of the ID.  If you can identify, can you please tell me the identifying features?  Upper Michigan, yesterday.

ID? by Elizabeth Peterson, on Flickr

ID this baby by Elizabeth Peterson, on Flickr

Edited August 3, 2018 by ejpete

[The Bird Nuts]

You are correct, it is a juvenile sparrow (note the fleshy gape).  Do you have a photo showing the length of the tail?

[ejpete]

Here's the best I have of the tail...pretty short, right?  And thanks for identifying the "fleshy gape."  I've noticed it on young birds before, but never knew what it was called! Thanks for your help!

tail by Elizabeth Peterson, on Flickr

[The Bird Nuts]

Sadly, I don't think we can really tell how long the tail is from that photo.  But my guess is Savannah based on the facial coloration (clean, tinted yellow, tan cheeks), the relatively thin pink beak, and the tan back (as opposed to reddish brown in Songs).

[ejpete]

Let me throw one more thought out there.  It couldn't be a young Clay-colored, could it?  I've truly never seen a young one, though  a lot of adults come through this area.  I know they have long-ish tails, and maybe they are never speckly like this one.

[akiley]

1 hour ago, The Bird Nuts said:

Sadly, I don't think we can really tell how long the tail is from that photo.  But my guess is Savannah based on the facial coloration (clean, tinted yellow, tan cheeks), the relatively thin pink beak, and the tan back (as opposed to reddish brown in Songs).

I thought Savannah too, but this was at a feeder, which kinda points away from that species in terms of probability.

[ejpete]

Hmmm.....I get LOTS of Savannah and Clay-colored sparrows both at this particular platform feeder.  

[The Bird Nuts]

Yeah, Bird Nut #2 told me he thought he remembered you (ejpete) get Savannahs at your feeder, so that wouldn't be unusual.  It would be unusual for us, though.

Edited August 3, 2018 by The Bird Nuts

[akiley]

2 hours ago, The Bird Nuts said:

Yeah, Bird Nut #2 told me he thought he remembered you (ejpete) get Savannahs at your feeder, so that wouldn't be unusual.  It would be unusual for us, though.

Okay, interesting. It would be unusual for me as well.

[ejpete]

Just wanted to thank you, Bird Nuts and akiley, for your discussion on this.  Interesting to know that Savannahs don't show up much at other people's feeders, because I've always enjoyed them at mine.  I posted a pic once for comparision at this site with five types of sparrows at this particular feeder at the same time.  I think it was Savannah, Song, American Tree (or maybe Chipping, don't remember,  White-Crowned and Clay-colored.  Anyway, the mystery was solved yesterday evening when a cheeky adult Savannah I've been seeing at the feeder a lot lately showed up WITH this juvenile, acting like parent and baby.   Love these little birds!