Perching Birds

Singing Bell's Sparrow

This Bell's Sparrow was photographed at the Salt Creek State Park at Salton Sea. When it sings, it perches up on the top of a bush, but otherwise mostly runs on the ground with its tail raised. It used to be named Sage Sparrow, but a few years ago the species was "split" into two species, the Bell's Sparrow and the Sagebrush Sparrow. I wasn't sure which this was, because they are so similar, but its song confirmed it was Bell's. 1/14/19 Judith Sparhawk