I almost missed the fleeting appearance of a single bathing Savannah Sparrow. Didn’t even realize I’d taken this picture until downloading photos on to the computer later in the day. The most distinctive feature visible here is the yellow around the eye area (supercilium). This marking is typical of a Savannah Sparrow.
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Savannah Sparrows overwinter in central and southern Arizona and breed in the northern third of the state and as far north as Alaska.
How different a bird can look in winter! Below is a male Lark Bunting in winter plumage. In breeding plumage the male is almost completely black with white patches on the wings. Below him is the female. She keeps her coloration year-round. Lark Buntings are winter visitors to southern Arizona.
Male Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)
Female Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)
Another sparrow with “Lark” in its name but unrelated to the bunting above, is the Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus). Southeast Arizona hosts this species year-round. Despite the fact that mesquite savannah is part of their habitat, this species has made but one appearance at the feeding station.
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