{"id":117058,"date":"2023-10-15T03:05:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T09:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=117058"},"modified":"2023-10-15T04:15:48","modified_gmt":"2023-10-15T10:15:48","slug":"my-leucistic-song-sparrow-sighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/15\/my-leucistic-song-sparrow-sighting\/","title":{"rendered":"My Leucistic Song Sparrow Sighting"},"content":{"rendered":"

My second gobsmack in a week occurred when I spotted a stunning leucistic Song Sparrow while driving slowly along the road at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago.<\/p>\n

\"LeucisticLeucistic Song Sparrow at Farmington Bay WMA \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I had been photographing a normal Song Sparrow, and when it lifted off,\u00a0 I slowly moved my Jeep forward until I saw this bird. It was resting on some phrags in the marsh, and its unusual white face glowed like a tiny beacon. That is what caught my eye first.<\/p>\n

At that moment, I was focused on two things: taking photos of this unusual sparrow and identifying its species.<\/p>\n

Because I don’t find leucistic birds all that often, I was buzzing with adrenaline and excitement. ‘Wired’ also might be a good word.<\/p>\n

\"SongSong Sparrow with leucism \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I knew the bird was a sparrow from its general shape. My initial thought was that it was a Song Sparrow. I was about 95% sure of my identification, but that 5% of uncertainty niggled at me.<\/p>\n

I shared a back of camera cell phone shot of the sparrow to my Facebook page, danced in my seat, and went looking for more birds to photograph after it flew off.<\/p>\n

It is always thrilling to find a rare or leucistic bird.<\/p>\n

\"PerchedPerched leucistic Song Sparrow \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time I got home there were a few comments on my Facebook post and as I waited for my photos to upload I looked at them and the back of camera image I had posted. That is when I began to second guess my Song Sparrow identification. The streaking on the breast looked finer than I thought it should for that species.<\/p>\n

I submitted the images to the American Birding Associations (ABA) “What’s This Bird<\/span><\/a>?” group and waited to see if other people thought it was a Song Sparrow. The consensus was Song Sparrow.<\/p>\n

It is perfectly okay for me to second-guess myself when it comes to tricky identifications; that is how I learn. Also, while I know a lot about birds, I don’t consider or call myself an expert.<\/p>\n

Anyway, that is why I am sharing my second gobsmacked experience after<\/em> my third one of the week.<\/p>\n

I was second-guessing myself.<\/p>\n

I’m simply delighted that I found and photographed this unusual and beautiful bird.<\/p>\n

\"NormalNormal Song Sparrow in autumn \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

In case you were wondering what a ‘normal’ Song Sparrow looks like, this is the one I photographed just before I found the leucistic sparrow.<\/p>\n

Between the handsome Sharp-shinned Hawk<\/span><\/a>, this wonderful, unusual sparrow, and the other birds I found and photographed, I had a fantastic day at Farmington Bay!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see posts on other leucistic birds that I have found and photographed. Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Song Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

From Merriam-Webster.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Definition of leucism:<\/em><\/p>\n

an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation affecting various animals (such as birds, mammals, and reptiles) that is marked by overall pale color or patches of reduced coloring and is caused by a genetic mutation which inhibits melanin and other pigments from being deposited in feathers, hair, or skin. The presence of unusual plumage contrasts (such as a very pale-winged bird with dark brown tail) is a strong indication of leucism. \u2014 David Allen Sibley<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My second gobsmack in a week occurred when I spotted a stunning leucistic Song Sparrow while driving slowly along the road at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1022,697,13594,204,26],"tags":[14468,4004,970,4620,3456,3455,4094,4202,4378,13485,4104,4059,6428,7876,1053,14469,4023,855,4195,30,4095],"class_list":["post-117058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-leucistic","category-song-sparrows","category-utah","tag-aberrant-plumage","tag-adult","tag-autumn","tag-fall","tag-leucism","tag-leucistic","tag-marsh","tag-melospiza-melodia","tag-morning","tag-normal","tag-perched","tag-phragmites","tag-phrags","tag-pigment-issues","tag-plumage","tag-plumage-issue","tag-song-sparrow","tag-sparrow","tag-sparrows","tag-utah-2","tag-wetlands"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/song-sparrow-leucistic-fall-mia-mcpherson-3456.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-us2","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":118258,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/11\/15\/singing-song-sparrow-on-a-post\/","url_meta":{"origin":117058,"position":0},"title":"Singing Song Sparrow On A Post","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 15, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The last time I visited Farmington Bay WMA, I was enchanted by the song of a singing Song Sparrow perched on a wooden post in soft morning light.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Singing Song Sparrow on a post at Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/song-sparrow-singing-post-mia-mcpherson-5095.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/song-sparrow-singing-post-mia-mcpherson-5095.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/song-sparrow-singing-post-mia-mcpherson-5095.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/song-sparrow-singing-post-mia-mcpherson-5095.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61555,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/12\/05\/song-sparrows-in-the-marsh-of-farmington-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":117058,"position":1},"title":"Song Sparrows In The Marsh Of Farmington Bay","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I probably see Song Sparrows more often and in more habitats than any other sparrow species here in Utah.\u00a0 I am delighted by that.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Alert adult Song Sparrow, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-1577.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-1577.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-1577.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-1577.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1591,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2010\/12\/09\/song-sparrow-small-in-frame\/","url_meta":{"origin":117058,"position":2},"title":"Song Sparrow – Small In Frame","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 9, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"What I like about this image is the pose of the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), the warm tones of the background, the detail and colors","rel":"","context":"In "Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area"","block_context":{"text":"Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/farmington-bay-wma\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Song Sparrow on frosty phragmites, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-mia-mcpherson-frosty-phragmites-7502.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-mia-mcpherson-frosty-phragmites-7502.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-mia-mcpherson-frosty-phragmites-7502.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/song-sparrow-mia-mcpherson-frosty-phragmites-7502.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":121839,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/02\/24\/song-sparrow-serenade\/","url_meta":{"origin":117058,"position":3},"title":"Song Sparrow Serenade – Happy Birthday Chris!","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I was serenaded by this Song Sparrow yesterday on the rut-filled road at Farmington Bay WMA. It might seem odd, but this bird reminded me of my youngest son.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Song Sparrow singing in a marsh, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/song-sparrow-singing-marsh-mia-mcpherson-9010.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/song-sparrow-singing-marsh-mia-mcpherson-9010.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/song-sparrow-singing-marsh-mia-mcpherson-9010.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/song-sparrow-singing-marsh-mia-mcpherson-9010.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":116562,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/09\/30\/autumn-savannah-sparrow\/","url_meta":{"origin":117058,"position":4},"title":"Autumn Savannah Sparrow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"When I was at Farmington Bay WMA earlier this week, I was enchanted by this Savannah Sparrow perched in lacy-looking phrags, out on the marsh.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Autumn Savannah Sparrow at Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/savannah-sparrow-autumn-mia-mcpherson-1318.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/savannah-sparrow-autumn-mia-mcpherson-1318.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/savannah-sparrow-autumn-mia-mcpherson-1318.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/savannah-sparrow-autumn-mia-mcpherson-1318.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":107589,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/10\/29\/song-sparrow-singing-on-an-october-morning\/","url_meta":{"origin":117058,"position":5},"title":"Song Sparrow Singing On An October Morning","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I'm sharing a simple singing Song Sparrow photographed on a late October morning. Or is it truly all that simple?\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Singing Song Sparrow in late October, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/song-sparrow-singing-frosty-phrags-mia-mcpherson-2954.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/song-sparrow-singing-frosty-phrags-mia-mcpherson-2954.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/song-sparrow-singing-frosty-phrags-mia-mcpherson-2954.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/song-sparrow-singing-frosty-phrags-mia-mcpherson-2954.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}