article thumbnail

Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America: A Review by a Sparrow Fan

10,000 Birds

I like sparrows. I like observing them, reading about them, grappling with species and subspecies identification, and even—on a good day—talking about sparrow taxonomy. The book does not include House Sparrow, an Old World sparrow that belongs to a completely different bird family. Scope of Book. Mexico border.

article thumbnail

Birding Shanghai in June 2023

10,000 Birds

Fortunately, there are a few more such breeding species than most Shanghainese are aware of. While the HBW states that it breeds at 300 – 2450 meters, in Shanghai – where such elevations are not available outside of the upper floors of a few highrises – it makes to with an altitude of about 0 meters as well.

Birds 130
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

2013 AOU North American checklist proposals

10,000 Birds

Proposal 2013-A-3 recommends adopting that split on the basis of a 2009 study (I wrote about it back in the day here ). Sage Sparrow split. Proposal 2013-A-7 would split the Sage Sparrow ( Amphispiza belli ) into two species: Great Basin Sage Sparrow ( A. nevadensis ) and California Sage Sparrow ( A. acuflavida ).

2013 218
article thumbnail

What is the State Bird of Nevada?

10,000 Birds

I’m one of those people who thinks all birds are beautiful, from the drab House Sparrow to the pink Roseate Spoonbill. Though not officially adopted until 1967, the Nevada Federation of Women’s Clubs voted for the Mountain Bluebird all the way back in 1930 and 1931. million breeding birds.

Nevada 100
article thumbnail

What is the State Bird of New Mexico?

10,000 Birds

Walking along a dirt track next to a prairie, my friend and I were on the look-out for different sparrow species when a large bird suddenly darted into the clearing. Officially adopted as the state bird in 1949 , the Greater Roadrunner was once known as the “Chaparral Bird.”

article thumbnail

Best Bird of the Weekend (Third Weekend of May 2011)

10,000 Birds

By their unexpected numbers and activity, I wouldn’t be surprised if they we’re planning on breeding here. Corey’s best bird of the weekend was a Grasshopper Sparrow in Queens, his first ever in his (adopted) home borough. Wouldn’t that be something?

2011 154
article thumbnail

Noudar Nature Park, Portugal

10,000 Birds

If you have been on the receiving end of any guided birding you know that a good guide can make or break the trip and João was up there with the best in terms of his knowledge of the local sites, breeding birds and visitors, coping easily with our constant questioning.

Portugal 255