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Clay-colored Sparrows are normally found in northern prairie and Great Plains but this single bird was identified and reported by a local birder.
The sparrow remained in the location it was first located while scores of birders and bird photographers showed up to view and photograph
this rare visitor to the area. The sparrow was perfectly content to remain in the many clumps of landscape grass, the stalks of which
were completely covered with seeds. The bird would move up or down the stalk, plucking the seed(s) from the stalk
and after splitting the chaff with it's beak, eat the seed while discarding the chaff.


Note that the "normal" looking feathers on the sparrow's left check looks very different from the somewhat sparse feathers on it's right cheek.

I have no idea what would make them look so different.



In the photo above, the sparrow is preparing to grab a seed from the stalk adjacent to the one on which it is perched.




The bird has a seed in it's beak and is in the process of splitting the chaff to expose the seed.









Part of the seed's chaff is visible as it falls away on the right side of the photo.