There’s good reason why I’ve never posted photos of this species to my blog until today.
Lincoln’s Sparrows are considered to be “among the more elusive of North America’s birds”. In 1833 John James Audubon who collected the type specimen in Labrador said of them ” we found more wildness in this species than in any other inhabiting the same country”.
My experience with Lincoln’s Sparrows has been similar. Over the years I’ve had a couple of them in my viewfinder but something always prevented me from getting quality photos. Whenever I was lucky enough to see one it was usually just too far away or something else went wrong..
For that reason I’ve never posted any photos of Lincoln’s Sparrows to Feathered Photography.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But three days ago while I was photographing other birds in a remote area of northern Utah this one popped out of the bushes for several seconds, For most of that short time I was disappointed because ‘he’ was giving me less than ideal head-on poses but then he turned on the perch and struck this excellent pose for long enough for me to fire off a quick burst. In my opinion it’s a nice shot of an elusive subject and I’m very happy to have it.
Yeah I know, to some folks it’s “only a sparrow” but I happen to think he’s a pretty spiffy-looking sparrow.
Ron
I agree with you that this is a good-looking bird. I misidentified the first one I photographed because it had mingled with some Song Sparrows and I really did not take a good enough look at the image. A mistake like that is a good opportunity for learning!
Well done! Great shot of a great species! One I’m still yet to see!
Thank you,
Hello Ron, I have been so enjoying your blog and your fantastic photography! Lincoln sparrows are one of my favorite sparrows and this photo is exquisite. You captured that Lincoln personality-cute and chipper always. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and beautiful photography, I am looking at getting a better camera to get better shots so appreciate when you list what you used to get the photos you post.
Thanks very much, Marisela. Good luck with your photography. And keep in mind, a better lens is far more important than a better camera.:)
Well, I was wondering when you’d get around to photographing this bird.😉
Seriously, we apparently have them here, but I’ve never seen one, so thanks for the good look.
To be honest Lyle, I’ve been wondering the same thing.
PERFECTION!!!
Thank you, Patty.
He is a beauty.
Your sparrows are another bird I envy. We have none of our own, and the imported ‘house sparrow’ is in serious decline. I think that they are charming little birds and, like so many of the lbjs are beautiful if one really looks.
Congratulations on finally getting this shot of the elusive charmer.
Thanks, EC. To be honest I’m surprised that House Sparrows are in decline anywhere. I wonder what’s going on…
I suspect it is same old, same old. Our activities, in clearing habitat, are probably a prime culprit.
I have read that the UK’s house sparrows (which is where ours come from) are also in decline.
They’re all at my house ❗️ A lawn full today 😁
Looks like the little fella is taking a bow — he must have heard the “applause” from the shutters clicking away. 😉 So glad you were able to capture this elusive little one. Congratulations! He is most handsome, with all the browns, golds, reds, and tans. Definitely makes all the frustration worthwhile when you are able get such a good shot like this one!
I’m glad you like it, Marty. He made me look good, that’s for sure.
I’m very happy for your success—he is a very spiffy little fellow! But I have a question: Did you know immediately upon seeing this LBJ that it wasn’t just *any* LBJ but a Lincoln’s? Or did you realize it only after looking at your images, either on your camera or on your computer? When it comes to sparrows I need a looooong time of study to be sure of which one I’m looking at! 🙄
Chris, to be honest I’m not good at ID’ing what I call the ‘tough sparrows’, including Lincoln’s. So I rely on a much more skilled friend for the confirmed ID.
Little brown jobs are some of my favorites, and this little guy is very nicely marked. I always think of these as fence birds. They pop up on wire fences along Highway 1.
Catherine, I don’t see them often enough to assign a name like that to Lincoln’s Sparrows. Wish I did.
Such a lovely little sparrow and what a wonderful coup for you, Ron! Congratulations!
Thanks, Melanie.
We only have a short window of opportunity to see Lincoln’s Sparrows here during migration. My experience has been similar to your previous encounters. Elusive, secretive, downright uncooperative little brown jobs!
Fantastic photograph! Pangs of jealousy notwithstanding, I now have hope that “this will be the year” one will take pity and pose for me, too!
Thank you, Ron, for sharing a very special image.
Wally, I can tell you appreciate the image for the same reasons I do. You get it. Thank you.
He’s a very dapper fellow. I love that sprinkle of white on his forehead. And sparrows are such cheeky little beggars! I really love them. Of course, I rescued a hatchling and successfully raised it. I called him Queepacheep because of his noise. Once released, Queep would still come to me (until I stopped calling him and started shooing him…sigh). I impressed a young woman greatly this way. She followed me home to borrow some of my witchy books (yes, I am, lol). I got out of my car a minute before she did. I called him so that when she got out of her car, there was the little sparrow winging his way to land on my finger. I cocked my head and said, “OH, and who are you, little one?” HEE! I did confess my trick though. I waited until her jaw came back up. 😀
My jaw would have dropped too, Arwen – even if I already knew the full story. That’s pretty neat!
I love Sparrows of every sort! Congrats on a great shot. I am excited to see some soon – this is the time of year they usually pass by around here!
Sounds like you have them pretty reliably, Joanne. I wish that was true around here.
Congratulations, Ron! Such a nice look at Mr. Lincoln! The first Lincoln’s I ever had in my yard was April 30 2017. The second was April 30 2018. I like to think it was the same bird, but I’ll never know. My photos were taken through the bedroom window- just a smidge softer than yours!
A window will do that, Diane. Sometimes I even have a difficult time focusing on a bird through glass.
Congrats! A very neat little one and I know I’ve not seen one… I think we are a ‘pass threw area’ on the way to better things so maybe someday when all the planets align correctly I’ll be lucky. Glad you managed such a good photo!
Thank you, Kathy. I’m pretty happy with it.
Congrats on finally capturing one! 😀 No idea if they are around or I’ve ever “seen” (really not the correct word 😉) one or not. It is a cute little devil…..43/sun/no wind – should make 73 today……..VERY doable……😀
Thanks for that info, Judy. I’m trying to decide what to do and when to do it. If I do it… 🙂
Spiffy is a good description. Nice photo and thanks for posting. I hate Sparrows when it comes to identification. To me there are so many that look so much alike. When I first look at him I think I have seen one, but I have not. Checked my list and I have seen and photoed House, Rufous-crowned, Chipping, Black-chinned, Lark, Black-throated, Savannah, and White-crowned, but never a Lincoln’s. I have sometimes taken a photo of a Sparrow, consulted Sibley’s and decided on one, and then consulted an expert only to find out that my choice was incorrect.
Ha, I’ve had that same thing happen Everett, more than once. So now I usually skip the middle man (me) and start with the ‘expert’. 🙂
Congratulations! I’ve never even IDed a Lincoln’s Sparrow, let alone photographed one. Nice photo (though he’s kind of giving you the stink eye).
Thanks, Stephanie. I’m not skilled at sparrow ID so I usually get help from a friend on the tough ones. I guess I’m not seeing the stink eye.
Handsome guy!
Yup, he is.