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Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Posted on Oct 26, 2014

Here’s one of the what feels like thousands of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) that I saw this weekend. It’s incredible to see how much they vary from individual to individual, subspecies to subspecies, when you get to see so many migrating through the area. There are apparently 24 recognized subspecies and 52 described forms of Song Sparrows! I wish I had more time to be able to learn how to readily tell them some of them apart. Like that Red-shouldered Hawk this bird thought hiding in the shaded branches of an oak tree would make it invisible to me. Close enough! Sparrow season is the best if you don’t mind little brown blurs and the occasional friendly shadow.

Song Sparrow fall autumn-0572