Savanah Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — It is interesting (at least to me) how much we birders rely (or at least I rely) on context in bird identification. I don’t expect to see Savanah Sparrow from my backyard photo blind, feeding in the brush under the big pines. I do see them in Maine…mostly where I expect to see them…out on the Kennebunk Plains which is typical Savanah habitat. So when showed up in front to the blind, even thought my instant id…almost instinctual…was Savanah Sparrow, the closest my mind could come was “that looks like a Savanah” and I had to spend some time with a field guide (a couple of them actually) to convince myself that it actually was a Savanah. And then it was more a case of “what else could it be” than anything else. I certainly would not have even hesitated or second guessed myself if I had encountered the bird out on the Plains. I just did not expect to see from the blind…it was out of context…and, just because of that, I questioned it. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @