Raggedy Song Sparrow in a wild rose – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Friday morning while enjoying the cooler temps in the Wasatch Mountains I had this raggedy Song Sparrow adult pop out of a wild rose bush next to my Jeep.
Without taking off my 1.4x teleconverter my only option was to take portraits of the adult sparrow. I’m always happy to take portraits and close up images when my subjects approach me and this Song Sparrow was no exception.
Around this time of the year adult Song Sparrows start to look worn and ragged because they have been extremely busy feeding their young. Raising their broods can be rough on their feathers and this species can have as many as four broods per season.
Raggedy Song Sparrow on a wooden post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The raggedy Song Sparrow adult flew from the rose bush to a nearby wooden post. I was barely able to fit the whole sparrow in my view finder and I clipped the tail on more images than I like to admit. This photo shows that even the tail feathers of this adult looked worn and bleached out.
By September this adult Song Sparrow will have completed molting and its plumage will look sharp and fresh again.
I love hearing these sparrows sing. Their melodious songs are easy to recognize and detect as their songs echo off the canyon walls in the mountains. Song Sparrows will perch out in the open to sing. They aren’t shy about singing at all which is good for them and for me.
After this last photo was taken the raggedy Song Sparrow flew off. It may have been looking for food to feed it young.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Song Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
Thank you for the portraits of this hard working bird. I suspect that most parents can relate to that raggedy look.