It is that time of the year when juvenile and immature sparrow ID can drive me a little bonkers because I am seeing quite a few young sparrows right now when I am in the field.
Juvenile Dark-eyed Junco – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
For me identifying this juvenile as a young Dark-eyed Junco I photographed two years ago wasn’t all that challenging but for other people it can be. I am asked “what is it?” quite often when it comes to sparrows anyway and when juveniles and immature birds are in the mix, the questions come more often.
I was in the high Uinta Mountains near Washington Lake when I spotted this young Dark-eyed Junco and I was able to take a few images of it before it flew away. Even though I know it is a Dark-eyed Junco at this age I’d be hesitant to pin down which subspecies of junco it was because at this age many of them look alike.
I hope to get back up into the Uinta Mountains before the snow starts flying. I haven’t been up there as much this year as I would have liked to have been. I just never know what I might find.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Dark-eyed Junco photos plus facts and information about this species.
Fantastic shot!!! Love all the greens an the way the youngster seems to both blend in and pop at the same time.
Yet another charmer – with great camouflage. I suspect many people miss them until they move.
Nice shot, would have had me guessing without those white tail feathers.