Picture perfect? Rarely, with bird identification

By Thelma Dalmas
Published: November 18, 2008

For the backyard bird watcher, some species present more identification problems than others.

Most beginners have no difficulty with the cardinals, titmice, nuthatches and bluejays. However, there is often confusion when it comes to chickadees, sparrows and finches.

The chickadee situation in our area is actually very simple. Virtually all of the birds seen at the feeder are Carolina chickadees. Here in Central Virginia, we are just too far to the southeast to expect black-capped chickadees. There are a few records of this more-northern species, but only an expert can make a conclusive identification.

Distinguishing purple finches from house finches can also cause problems. Generally speaking, house finches are more common but, during an irruptive year, they may be outnumbered by the purples. If you see a bird during the summer months, it is a house finch. Right now, I have both species visiting my feeders.

Trying to distinguish the two birds by body or head shape is not a good idea. In cold weather, both of these birds can fluff themselves out, which will give them a plump, rounded appearance, and both can raise a crest when agitated. The key to identification is color and facial marking. Male house finches are partially red on the breast and head, whereas the purple finches are a more raspberry shade.

Purple finches, both male and female, show a wide, dark eye-line, which is absent in house finches.

In trying to identify sparrows, it is helpful to know that the most likely bird to be seen near the feeder is a white-throated sparrow. You probably will have both mature and immature individuals, so don’t expect all of the birds to be identical. The adults have an unmarked gray breast, but the birds that hatched this past summer usually show some buffiness or very diffuse streaking down the chest. All white-throated sparrows have distinct stripes running lengthwise over the crown.

The other sparrow most often seen at feeders during the winter is the song sparrow. This bird shows a lot of conspicuous streaking along the chest, accented by a brown spot in the center of the breast. The song sparrow does not show any white stripes on the head.

As you watch the birds in your yard, pay attention to their behavior since it is often a helpful factor in identification. It is also important to remember that very few birds are going to look exactly like the illustration in the field guide. To quote Ogden Nash:

“A bird in the open never looks
Like its picture in the birdie books.”

News and Notes
Mary Pat Morris, from Boonsboro, reported that the ruby-throated hummingbird that has been at her feeder since early October was still present on Nov. 16. Although we do have winter records for the coastal plain, this is a new late date for Lynchburg. If you have a hummingbird that recently showed up at your feeder, it is more likely to be a western vagrant than a ruby-throated, and I would appreciate your contacting me.