Savannah Gold

One of our day trips while in Canada was to the town of Golden, BC, a small town on the west side of the Canadian Rockies and through which runs the Kicking Horse River.  There is a nature area straddling the Kicking Horse and it is to this we headed.  Harlequin Ducks were said to be found along several rivers on our trip, and I, having never seen one, made it our objective.  Alas, it would not be in the cards for us to find one.

However, we did have a good hike and saw quite a few species of animals and birds.  This Savannah Sparrow and others of its kind were singing from the fence line surrounding the landing strip of the area’s airport. At first, it sounded like a Grasshopper Sparrow and from a distance we thought it might be.  The closer we got, which enabled a good photographic opportunity, the more we doubted our first guess and now we settle on the Savannah.  The yellow lores, although faint, raised crown, and streaked breast with a central spot give it away.  The songs of these two species do sound remarkably similar.  However, the Savannah’s is richer, as I hear it, and drops lower on the final note.