These pictures were taken of a number of sparrows all in a small area of brush along the beach road on Duxbury Beach (MA) south of High Pines about mid-day.

There are some "classic" Ipswich Sparrow shots and then some that aren't so classic. There seems to be quite a bit of plumage variation - some of which is the camera and some of it is the birds. There's one with a lot of white on the head and strong markings and another whose markings are not dramatic at all. Perhaps age differences? I'm assuming they are all Ipswich though the bird in the last 2 shots seems like a stretch - but I can't think of what else it could be.

Perhaps there is such a thing as a pale Savannah Sparrow that isn't actually an Ipswich and that could explain some of the variations in the strength of the head markings. In any event these guys were all together - very much a single flock.