[obol] One-eyed sparrow

[Dennis P. Vroman]

Brandon,

In sw Oregon (coast range), the Thick-billed Fox Sparrow does nest in mountain highland brushfields.  A lengthy write-up in BOGR indicates a not fully identified race nesting west of the Cascades north of sw Oregon.

However, the Sooty, or possible Fox Sparrow hybrids from the Canadian Rockies should be moving on.  Perhaps the one-eyed bird you observed might decide to stay put, you never know.

Dennis


  OBOL,

  A sparrow-like bird was nervously hanging out in my Rhododendron bushes this morning, spending an inordinate amount of time looking around.  After grabbing the binocs, I noticed that it was missing its right eye.  After deciding that it was safe, it dropped to the ground and began foraging for food, quickly moving both legs forward simultaneously and then rapidly backward again.  Its bill was too thick to be a thrush and it looked too dark (especially around the face) to be a Song Sparrow.  It looked like a hybrid of Alaskan and Pac Northwest subspecies FOX SPARROW, with a dark gray head and a transition to a dark reddish-brown color on the back and tail.  I realize that Fox Sparrows do not breed in Western Oregon, but perhaps the injury has either slowed or precluded its migration.

  Brandon
  Eugene
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