Answer:

To start off, the pale gray hood leading into a brownish back, malar leading from the bird’s shoulder to near its bill, and white breast and throat immediately narrow this bird down to either a Sagebrush Sparrow or Bell’s Sparrow. From this angle, we can see the most reliable 3 field marks to separate these 2 species. Firstly, this bird has a paper thin malar that trickles off near the bill, pointing to a Sagebrush Sparrow. To further support this, the malar is a shade of pale gray, lighter in color than its head, again pointing to a Sagebrush Sparrow. Lastly, this bird has very coarse black streaking all over its back, separating in a sort of V formation, leading to a final identification of Sagebrush Sparrow.

Congratulations to Brandon, Riley, Henry M, Thomas L, Lily, Braxton, and Ben for figuring out Sagebrush Sparrow!