Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Rufous-crowned Sparrow perched on a piece of basalt that forms the edge of the Black Mesa and gives the Mesa it's characteristic black color. There are some grasses in the background.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Black Mesa Nature Preserve, Kenton, Ok, October 20, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-800; f/11; 1/800 sec.

This page is for the Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps). There is a relatively short but intense climb from the valley to the top of the mesa at Black Mesa State Park. I saw this bird near the top jumping around the rocks. It was the perfect timing to give me a bit of a rest as I neared the top. It ended up posing for me on the top of a rock after watching it for a few minutes looking for a good shot.