Clay-coloured Sparrow and Wood Ducks at High Park: October 3, 2020

The Clay-coloured Sparrow is a common inhabitant of shrubby country in the prairies. In Ontario it will occur almost anywhere where suitable habitat exists.

Clay-coloured Sparrow
Clay-coloured Sparrow

The sharply outlined ear patch is the best identification tool.

Clay-coloured Sparrow
Clay-coloured Sparrow
Clay-coloured Sparrow

Clay-coloured Sparrows winter in Mexico.

Clay-coloured Sparrow

We also had White-crowned Sparrows this morning. These were juveniles who show a brown crown.

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile with brown crown)
White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile with brown crown)

In Ontario, the White-crowned Sparrow nests mainly in the vicinity of James and Hudson Bays.

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile with brown crown)

They winter in the Southern United States and Mexico.

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile with brown crown)

Here is the mature bird:

White-crowned Sparrow

Other birds:

Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Common Grackle
House Sparrow (female)
Rock Pigeon
Canada Geese
Mallards
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (female) showing wing dammage
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Double-crested Cormorant (juvenile)
Double-crested Cormorant (juvenile)
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches
American Goldfinch

High Park is the best place to see Wood Ducks during most months of the year:

Wood Duck (male)
Wood Ducks
Wood Duck (male)
Wood Duck (male)
Wood Ducks
Wood Ducks
Wood Duck (male)
Wood Ducks

Species list: double-crested cormorant, mallard, wood duck, red-tailed hawk, rock pigeon, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, house sparrow, European starling, red-winged blackbird, common grackle, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, clay-coloured sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow. (22 species)

Friendly chipmunk:

Chipmunk
Chipmunk

Several of us saw a fox before the walk. Here are photos from a previous walk:

Red Fox with squirrel
Red Fox with squirrel

Today’s group:

Views from “Hawk Hill” at dawn:

Sugar Maple

NATURE POETRY

It is the summer’s great last heat,
It is the fall’s first chill: They meet.          – Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt (1836–1919) 

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Clay-coloured Sparrow and Wood Ducks at High Park: October 3, 2020

  1. Gloria

    The male wood ducks look like designer models. It is like an artist chose the patterns and the colours. Black squirrels are what I always see in Toronto. At our cottage which is north of Peterborough we see only reddish coloured squirrels and some chipmunks.

    Reply

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