Although my eyes are sometimes drawn to patterns when scanning vegetation for birds, generally I require some movement to detect their presence. I spotted this beautiful little White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) while it was hopping in and out of some heavy vegetation at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
I tracked the bird for a while, hoping to get an obstructed shot, and was thrilled to capture this image. Much of the bird’s body was in the shadows, but rays of sunshine spotlighted its head and highlighted its beautiful facial markings, including the distinctive yellow stripe between the base of its bill and its eye, an area known as the “lore.” Be sure to click on the image to get an enlarged view of these wonderful features.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Nice Mike! Enjoyed seeing your image!
And what pink feet it has, too!
🙂
Beautiful photo! An interesting bird as well!
Thanks–this is one of the few sparrows that I can reliably identify.
I am always shocked at how many birds you know. I don’t think that I could name most of the birds on your blog if you didn’t have captions!
When I started photographing birds eight years or so ago, I had trouble identifying them. I have gained experience over time, but still make mistakes with some species. Fortunately there are a lot of bird forums in Facebook where I can ask for help if I am uncertain what kind of bird I have photographed.
That is great! Those years of experience certainly paid off for your blog! Love your blog and keep up the excellent photography! 🙂📸
Beautiful, Mike!
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Thanks, Mitzy.
A beautiful portrait of a bird whose beauty could easily be missed if one doesn’t look carefully. Thanks.
Thanks, Nina. These little warblers are quite elusive and move quickly, so, as you stated, they are easy to miss. At this time of the year, the little splotches of cheery yellow are especially welcome. 🙂