Birding Alaska

Leucistic Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca sinuosa, Seaside Farm, Homer, 24 August 2009.

The breeding race of Fox Sparrows in the Homer area is P. i. sinuosa, part of the “Sooty” group of Fox Sparrows occuring along the coast of Alaska as far west as Unimak Island in the eastern Aleutians (Gibson and Kessel 1997). Sooty Fox Sparrows are supposed to be just that, sooty in color, but there’s always an oddball. This leucistic individual is identified as a Fox Sparrow by size, shape and voice.  It shows the large, round head and thick, bicolored bill of the species. Mossy Kilcher called me to tell me about this bird which has been hanging around her feeders most of the summer; Mossy’s feeders have a knack for attracting unusual birds! I stopped by this week and was fortunate to see it and get a few photos–a sharp looking bird.

A normally pigmented Sooty Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca sinuosa, Hornaday Hillside Park, Homer, 26 August 2009.

Juvenile Sooty Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca sinuosa, Seaside Farm, Homer, 24 August 2009.

These last two photos are examples of normally pigmented Sooty Fox Sparrows. The downy feathers on the head, breast and sides of the bird in the last photo identify it as a juvenile.

Gibson, D. D., and Kessel, B. 1997. Inventory of the species and subspecies of Alaska birds. Western Birds 28:45-95.

Hybrid Mallard Anas platyrhynchos X Northern Pintail A. acuta, Mud Bay, Homer, 10 March 2009.

This drake has been hanging out in Mud Bay, at the base of the Homer spit since at least March 10, when I took this photo.  It shows a combination of characters from both Mallard and Northern Pintail and has been associating with a large flock of Mallards and Wigeon, including 7 Eurasian Wigeon.  Last fall  (13-October-2008) I photographed what was probably the same individual at Mud Bay.  The Mallard flock of at least 800 birds departed the spit in the fall and was absent until late February when the ice left Mud Bay and impressive numbers returned.  Where did they winter?

One of at least 7 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope at Mud Bay, Homer, 10 March 2009.