"Look-alikes
Galore"
Sage
Sparrow
Zippppppppp..... there he goes! It’s a Sage Sparrow! A year-round
resident of southern Utah. A common but inconspicuous bird of sagebrush
and chaparral in the arid western United States. The Sage Sparrow is
seldom identified, because it is so similar in size and color to the
rest of the sparrow world. This energetic little ground feeder has some
very particular characteristics that will help you identify him from
the multitudes of other flocks of sparrows. It is usually found
solitary (by itself) where most other sparrows
travel in flocks. The
Sage Sparrow spends much of its time on the ground, running between
shrubs with a characteristic posture of a raised tail which it flicks
and waves as it works the ground, looking for food.
travel in flocks. The
Sage Sparrow spends much of its time on the ground, running between
shrubs with a characteristic posture of a raised tail which it flicks
and waves as it works the ground, looking for food.
The Sage Sparrow is usually found in the sagebrush of southern Utah, It
ranges north to Canada and south to Mexico. We have seen the Sage
Sparrow on many of the Audubon Field Trips. Our next field trip will be
at the Henderson Ponds - Saturday, April 12. This is a spectacular
wildlife setting. It will be a great place to see the Sage Sparrow. If
you have never visited the Henderson Ponds, make a point to come along.
It will be a trip to remember. Not only will there be a variety of
birds, but Spring flowers will be in abundance.
Thank you, Judy Warren, for your rendition of the Sage Sparrow. Marilyn
Davis is a member of the Red Cliffs Audubon. If you have any questions
about birding, or about Audubon Field trips please call the Davis home
and talk to Marilyn or Keith, 673-0996.
- - -
Past
articles:
"Cold
Days and Good Memories"
(White Pelican)
Where's
Sherlock Holmes When You
Need Him?" (Yellow-billed Cuckoo)
"Tale
of Four Birders"
(Western Scrub Jay)
"East
Zion Continued"
(Golden-crowned Kinglet),
Vermilion
Flycatcher
"Aerial
Wolves" (Sharp-shinned Hawk)
"From
Clown School to Pond"
(Ruddy Duck)
"Shades
of Red" (Red-tailed Hawk).
"Predatory
Songbird" (Northern Shrike)
The
Cagey Killdeer
"A
True Bird Story" (Willet)
"A Song to Remember"
(Hermit
Thrush)
"To Catch a
Fish..."
(Green Heron aka Green-backed Heron)
"No Spring Cleaning"
(Brown-headed Cowbird)