HARRIS' SPARROW
(Zonotrichia querula)
Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, Fulton Co., GA
photos by Pierre Howard, Jim Flynn and Earl Horn
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image |
This particular bird was shrouded
in mystery from its initial report by a visiting British birder on 20 December 1998, and a
subsequent report from a visiting birder from Arizona on 6 February, 1999. Each time
it was observed only briefly and it eluded local birders who chased the bird on the
following days, or in the case of the February sighting, the same day. Then a break on February 11, 1999, when Pat Sully and Leslie Curran reported the bird to the Georgia Birders Online Listserve...and even they were about to give up after a three hour search. But then a few raucous Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) caught their attention, and as they investigated the commotion, found the bird near the parking lot. They had observed the bird several times, giving other local birders hope in locating the bird the following day. The photos to the left were taken on 12 and 13 February 1999, below the feeders next to the rehabilitation building. The bird was quite cooperative, allowing everyone plenty of time to study it. It accompanied a small flock of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), one of which may be observed to the left and behind the Harris' Sparrow in the bottom photo. As may be seen in the photos, the bird was quite striking, most likely an immature bird. It was slightly larger than a White-throated Sparrow. The head was a light brown color, without markings on the face, except for a small reddish-brown patch behind the auriculars. The forehead, crown and nape were neatly decorated with black, giving a somewhat scaly appearance when viewed from the top. The whitish throat was bordered by black 'whiskers', a small black patch on the left side of the chin, and bold black markings on the upper breast. The underparts were white, with black streaks on the sides of the breast and flanks. The sides of the breast and flanks were also washed with light brown. The upperparts were a darker brown color, and the back was streaked with black. The legs were pink. The bird had also been heard singing by several observers. According to research by Bruce Dralle on the occurrence of this species in Georgia, this should be the twelfth state record. The eleven previous records are as follows: 1. Athens - April 23, 1937. specimen. Except for the sighting at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in 1977, all of these records were from northern Georgia. |
Reviewed 21 Oct 2000
