Coastal Carolina

Spizella passerina HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4.75 inches * Dark, conical bill * Rusty crown * White supercilium and black eyeline * Gray face and underparts * Tan back with dark streaks * Brown wings with wing bars * Gray rump * Slim, forked tail * Sexes similar * Fall and Winter plumage has different head pattern: brown crown with fine dark streaks and pale median crown stripe, buff supercilium, pale bill with dark tip and brownish cheeks * Juvenile plumage (Summer and Fall) similar to Winter but duller with streaked underparts Similar species: Chipping Sparrows are similar to other sparrows with rusty crowns but have a white supercilium and black eye line in Spring and Summer. Field Sparrow has a pink bill and white eye ring. Swamp Sparrow has rusty wings and a dingy breast. American Tree Sparrow has a dark breast spot. In Fall and Winter, Chipping Sparrows are quite similar to Clay-colored and Brewer's Sparrows. Often, they retain some rust in the crown and can be identified by that field mark. Clay-colored and Brewer's Sparrows have pale lores and brown rumps. Clay-colored Sparrow has more distinct whisker and a buffier breast. Brewer's Sparrow has an indistinct supercilium and an eye ring.

Full_View

Junco hyemalis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5.25-6 inches * Pink, conical bill * White outer tail feathers * Considerable geographic variation in plumage * Various forms were formerly considered separate species "White-winged junco": * Medium gray head, breast and upperparts * White belly * White wing bars * Female and immatures somewhat browner than male * Breeds from Montana to Nebraska "Oregon junco": * Dark gray head and breast * Brown back and wings * Buffy flanks * White belly * Female and immatures somewhat duller than male * Breeds from Alaska to California "Slate-colored junco": * Dark gray head, breast and upperparts * White belly * Female and immatures somewhat browner than adult male and may have buffy flanks * Breeds in eastern United States and Canada "Pink-sided junco": * Medium gray head and breast * Dark lores * Brown back and wings * Pinkinsh flanks * White belly * Female and immatures somewhat browner than male * Breeds from Alberta to Idaho "Gray-headed junco": * Medium gray plumage, palest on belly * Rusty back * Dark lores * Sometimes has dark upper mandible * Breeds in Rocky Mountains Similar species: The Dark-eyed Junco is similar to the local (southeast Arizona) Yellow-eyed Junco but has dark eyes. Black-chinned sparrow has streaked back, brown wings and lacks white in the tail.

Full_View

Pipilo erythrophthalmus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7.25 inches * Conical bill * Red eye (white in southeastern birds) * Rusty sides * White belly * Buffy undertail coverts * White primary bases and tertial edges * Long tail with white outer tail feathers * Male has black head, back, wings and tail-brown in female * Juvenile (Summer) heavily streaked, brown above and buffy below * Frequently feeds on the ground where it noisily scratches for food * Formerly conspecific with Spotted Towhee Similar species: The Eastern Towhee is similar to the Spotted Towhee but lacks wing bars and white spots on the back.

Full_View

Passerella iliaca HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6.25 inches * Conical bill with yellow lower mandible * Very large sparrow * Thick malar streak * Heavy spotting below * Extremely variable plumage across range * Sexes similar Eastern United States: * Gray crown, nape and back * Bright rusty rump and tail * Rusty brown cheeks, malar streak, streaks on back, wings and spotting below Western United States: * Dark brown to gray upperparts * Wings and tail sometimes same color as back, sometimes browner * Bill size very large in one race * Spotting underneath usually very dark Similar species: The Fox Sparrow is much larger than other sparrows and might at first be mistaken for a thrush but note the thick, conical bill.

Full_View

Ammodramus savannarum HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4.5 inches * Large, conical bill * Large, flat head * Short tail * Buffy face and breast * White belly and undertail coverts * Buffy supercilium * Narrow, whitish crown stripe * Gray and brown streaks on nape, wing coverts and rump * Black and white streaking on back * Sexes similar * Juvenile plumage (Summer, sometimes Fall) similar to adult but has fine streaks on breast * Some variation in plumage across range with Florida birds being somewhat darker and Arizona birds having indistinct brownish streaks on sides of breast * Found in open fields * Forages on the ground Similar species: The Baird's Sparrow is similar in shape to the Grasshopper Sparrow but has streaks across the breast. Juvenile Grasshopper Sparrows have streaked breasts and can be separated by their whitish, not yellow, crown stripe and lack of dark streaks on the side of the throat. Henslow's Sparrow has olive face and rusty wings. LeConte's Sparrow has different face pattern. Other sparrows likely to be found in field habitats have longer tails and smaller heads as well as different markings

Full_View

Passerculus sandwichensis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 4.75 inches * Conical bill * Short, forked tail * Yellow to whitish supercilium * Thin, white central crown stripe * Brown upperparts ( varies from dark brown to gray-brown) with dark streaks * White underparts with dark streaks * Sexes similar * Juvenile plumage (Summer) somewhat darker * Found in open fields with fairly short vegetation * Forages on the ground * Variation in plumage and size across its range Similar species: In its open country habitat, the Savannah Sparrow is most similar to Vesper and Song Sparrows. It can be told from both by its yellowish supercilium, white central crown stripe and short tail. Baird's and juvenile Grasshopper Sparrow are larger-headed and billed. When flushed, the Savannah Sparrow tends to fly fairly high to its next perch whereas Song Sparrows fly low and pump their tails, Vesper Sparrows often show considerable white in the tail and Grasshopper Sparrows fly very low.

Full_View

Plectrophenax nivalis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6 inches * Short, conical bill * Large white patches in wings * Inhabits open areas: tundra, beaches, barren fields, etc * Often found in flocks * Feeds on the ground * Distinctive call note given in flight Male alternate: * White head and underparts * Black back and bill * Black wings and tail with some white patches * Plumage worn on the breeding grounds in the Arctic Female alternate: * White head with some dark streaking * White underparts * Upperparts streaked black and gray * Black wings and tail with some white patches * Plumage worn on the breeding grounds in the Arctic Basic: * Variable amounts of brown on head, back and sides of breast * Dark streaks on back * White underparts * Yellow bill * Plumage worn in Winter and during migration Similar species: The Snow Bunting is easiest to identify in flight with its large white wing patches and distinctive calls. On the ground, it is whiter than other species that occupy a similar habitat. In Alaska, McKay's Bunting is similar but has a white back.

Full_View

HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5.5 inches * Conical bill * Brown crown * Grayish face and supercilium * Brown streak extends behind eye * Thick malar streak * Brown back with darker streaks * Brown wings with some rust * Underparts white with heavy dark streaks and central breast spot * Long, brown, rounded tail * Sexes similar * Juvenile (Summer) similar to adult but buffier * Considerable variation in plumage across its range from dark to rusty upperparts and in bill size and shape Similar species: The Song Sparrow can be told from the Lincoln's Sparrow by its larger bill, heavier streaking on the breast and flanks, lack of buffy color on the breast and face, brown back, larger size and longer tail. Juvenile Song Sparrows are very similar to juvenile Swamp and Lincoln's Sparrows. Savannah Sparrow is similar but smaller-billed and shorter-tailed with a yellowish supercilium. Fox Sparrow is much larger.

Full_View

Melospiza melodia HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 5.5 inches * Conical bill * Brown crown * Grayish face and supercilium * Brown streak extends behind eye * Thick malar streak * Brown back with darker streaks * Brown wings with some rust * Underparts white with heavy dark streaks and central breast spot * Long, brown, rounded tail * Sexes similar * Juvenile (Summer) similar to adult but buffier * Considerable variation in plumage across its range from dark to rusty upperparts and in bill size and shape Similar species: The Song Sparrow can be told from the Lincoln's Sparrow by its larger bill, heavier streaking on the breast and flanks, lack of buffy color on the breast and face, brown back, larger size and longer tail. Juvenile Song Sparrows are very similar to juvenile Swamp and Lincoln's Sparrows. Savannah Sparrow is similar but smaller-billed and shorter-tailed with a yellowish supercilium. Fox Sparrow is much larger.

Full_View