JohnC
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« on: August 22, 2009, 10:54:40 pm » |
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We have a bird feeder next to a pyracantha hedge and in that hedge live about 30 sparrows. I've noticed that one bird that also lives with this flock in the hedge looks like a juvenile starling but today I noticed that it has the back feathers of a sparrow but ,apart from it's size ,beak etc. also has a spotted chest just like a juvenile starling. Can this possibly be a cross breed ? -I've called it a 'sparling'. Quite regularly starlings will visit this feeder but this one stays with the sparrows in the hedge. Also it exclusively eats the fat balls just like the other starlings.,it doesn't eat the seed like the sparrows do (they also eat the fartballs) What do you think ? Here's a regular sparrow and two shots of this 'sparling' One lets you see the back feathers - exactly like a sparrow in colour and in pattern, the other photo , on the bird bath, shows the chest- that of a juvenile starling before it gets those purply/green colours of an adult..
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« Last Edit: August 22, 2009, 10:56:14 pm by JohnC »
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rjgjr
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« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2009, 07:42:00 am » |
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I'm not a bird officianado John, I'll leave that up to the others. Just wanted to say great images, color and detail!
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JohnC
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« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2009, 05:46:57 pm » |
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Thanks,Richard. As you liked them so much I'll be naughty and post this one again. I love it ! I don't know whether you saw it first time round. Thanks,Mark. It's a starling after all. I wonder how unusual it is to be living in a hedge with a bunch of sparrows though ? The sparrows leave it alone but beat each other up and as you see here intimidate one another to get to the seed .Lol.
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rjgjr
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« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2009, 06:34:50 pm » |
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Thanks John, the wing action is incredible. Good catch!
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JohnMurphy
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« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2009, 12:06:36 am » |
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It certainly looks like a crossbreed between a house sparrow and a starling. Its got a starlings bill and chest speckles, but the shape and typical plumage of a house sparrow. However I have never heard of interbreeding between these before. Very interesting.
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Clear Skies, John MurphyCheck out my Photos
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Padraig OBrien
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« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2009, 01:26:54 am » |
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I am a member of Birdwatch Ireland atm and i also feed birds in my garden and i honestly can say i have never come across House Sparrows and Starlings interbreeding so its very interesting indeed it could even be a juvenile Mistle or Song Thrush.
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