Mystery Bird: Western White-collared Seedeater, Sporophila torqueola

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[Mystery bird] Western White-collared Seedeater, Sporophila torqueola, discovered by the photographer and photographed at the Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 3 October 2008 [larger view].

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

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It looks a lot like the White-collared Seedeater in Sibley, though the white collar is whiter on this bird than even the "bright adult" in the illustration. But that's the closest I can come up with.

Black-headed Grosbeak. Black head, of course, and proportionately large bill. Geographic range fits. I'm puzzled by the white malar, but could that be a white scapular we're seeing?

By John Ponder (not verified) on 19 Feb 2009 #permalink