[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2015] – I think the Large-billed Sparrow Passerculus (sandwichensis) rostratus is perhaps one of my favorite North American sparrows. Personally I would like to see a more progressive taxonomy of the genus Passerculus which elevates this distinct form to species status, or at least “allied” with Belding’s Savannah Sparrow in a larger billed “species”. It is currently treated as a form of Savannah Sparrow by the AOU. As for a common name? Why not call it the “San Diego Sparrow” since the type specimen came from “Sea shore at San Diego, California”.
Large-billed Sparrow – Mission Beach North Jetty, Mission Beach, San Diego County, California 30 Dec 2014
Large-billed Sparrow – Mission Beach North Jetty, Mission Beach, San Diego County, California 30 Dec 2014
Large-billed Sparrow – Mission Beach North Jetty, Mission Beach, San Diego County, California 30 Dec 2014
Large-billed Sparrow – Mission Beach North Jetty, Mission Beach, San Diego County, California 30 Dec 2014
Large-billed Sparrow – Mission Beach North Jetty, Mission Beach, San Diego County, California 30 Dec 2014