Field Sparrow

The foliage is a bit overwhelming, but I held onto this frame because it represents my first photographic run-in with this species. I think the direct eye contact helps distract from the obscured legs, and I was really happy with the contrast between the bird and the background. Note the key field marks which combinatorially distinguish this sparrow from the many other family members: plain gray face and breast, bright white eye-ring, pinkish beak, streaky back, and long tail. Their accelerating call sounds like a bouncing ball.

Burning Coal Vein Campground, Slope County, North Dakota, 6/17/21
Canon 600mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX Mark II
1/4000 at f/5.6, ISO 1250