Another unidentified Sparrow

[Buteo]

I saw this sparrow yesterday at the edge of a cornfeild (allergy shudder) out near our local airport.

I couldn't pin down exactly what sparrow it is though.
It's got the rusty-red cap of a Chipping Sparrow, but the bird has other markings not found on a CS as well as being bigger than any Chipper I've ever seen.

The cheek/jowl markings and the chest bars are very similar to either a Song or Savannah Sparrow.
Neither of those birds have a rusty red cap though.
There are other differences in the head plumage as well.
The Savannahs have a noticably yellow area around & above the eye, while the Song Sparrows have a beige stripe from the beak right along the middle of top of the head.

Anybody else have suggestions for a more positive ID?

[Monica]

Almost like a brewers sparrow... or a sage sparrow....

Here, check this out!
Kevin Smith Nature Photos

[Buteo]

Thanks Monica, but I doubt it's either of those 2.
Both the Brewers & Sage sparrows are considerably out of my area (north western shore of Lake Ontario).

[apuforyou]

where do you live so i can look through my bird books....

[Buteo]

Originally Posted by apuforyou

where do you live so i can look through my bird books....

The north-western shore of Lake Ontario, between Toronto & Niagara Falls.

[Mammabird]

It has warbler looking beak, bigger than a sparrow but maybe it's the angle.

[Mammabird]

Nevermind, I couldn't find a warbler even remotely close. How about a Pine Siskin, I can't tell if there is a yellow bar on the wing but it could be female.

[Buteo]

Thanks for the reply....
Pine Siskins....
Hmmmmm I don't so - they don't have that reddish cap, nor the facial markings, especially the lower cheek & jowl bars.