Bird identification from Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson

[dinjoh1]

Last week we saw this bird at the Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson along the bank of a pond. The rigid upright position of the tail and the thickness at the base of the tail seemed to me to be the two most unusual features. Does anyone know what kind of bird it is? Thank you.

 

[Evo]

This is a swamp sparrow. Notice the identical markings that match the OP's pictures. Definitely, got to dig out my bird book.

http://cdn.audubon.org/cdn/farfuture/YTrTz7zhXK4JbkjOAVmA2hNuhjJhpvVRqb0TNNFGgpI/mtime:1422549770/sites/default/files/Swamp_Sparrow_m50-7-047_l_1.jpg

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/swamp-sparrow

 

[Vanadium 50]

Hermit Thrush, catharus guttatus, I believe.

 

[Evo]

Hermit Thrush, catharus guttatus, I believe.

No, not a hermit thrush https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/hermit_thrush_7.jpg

It doesn't have the streaks on the face and it has spots on the breast.

 

[Tom.G]

Based on tail and wing posture, probably a Wren of some sort.

 

[Evo]

Based on tail and wing posture, probably a Wren of some sort.

Did you see the picture I posted? While the wren has similar features, look at the wings. The sparrow I posted is identical. Please post the picture of your wren.

Bird watching and feather collecting was a hobby/passion of mine when I was younger. This is a sparrow.

 

[Tom.G]

from: National Geographic Birds of North America, 2nd ed. pg. 514
I agree that the beak on the Swamp Sparrow is a better match.

 

[Evo]

View attachment 217949

from: National Geographic Birds of North America, 2nd ed. pg. 514
I agree that the beak on the Swamp Sparrow is a better match.

Hmm, I agree your pictures do also look more similar than the wren photos I've seen. It's a Wrenrow or a Sparwren.

 

[berkeman]

Thread re-opened after some cleanup of insults and replies. Let's be polite please folks. Thanks.

 

[Markie Obrien]

Song Sparrow

https://ebird.org/species/sonspa/

 

[Markie Obrien]

Ide

Did you see the picture I posted? While the wren has similar features, look at the wings. The sparrow I posted is identical. Please post the picture of your wren.

Bird watching and feather collecting was a hobby/passion of mine when I was younger. This is a sparrow.

Identical?

 

[Evo]

@Markie Obrien The wing tips and tops have the darker shading of the OP's bird, which the others do not. Also the stiffly upright tail with all of the fluff at the base, also without all of the banding on the wren's wings.

Do you have a better match of the body and wings? Always open to better matches.

 

[Markie Obrien]

The overall plumage pattern is Song Sparrow.
Song Sparrow has multiple subspecies with size variation and plumage color variation etc...
This bird is probably the Arizona subspecies, Melospiza melodia fallax.
(Red-tailed Hawk subspecies show even greater variations.)
Tail position is incidental in this case. .

.

.lots of variation here:
https://ebird.org/media/catalog?taxonCode=sonspa&sort=rating_rank_desc&mediaType=p&regionCode=
.
P.S. the Wiki says: The song sparrow is one of the most polytypic bird species in North America.