White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Appearance:
Medium-sized sparrow
Rusty-brown striped upperparts
Two white wing-bars 
Grayish underparts
White throat 
Black and white striped crown
Black eye line
Yellow lores (spot between eye and bill)

Listen to its call.

The White-throated Sparrow comes in two forms: white-crowned and tan-crowned. On tan-striped birds, the white and black crown is replaced with tan and brown. In addition, the white throat is split in three sections by dark streaks descending from the bill.

Here's an interesting fact that I came across in my reading -- males of both morphs prefer females with white stripes and both morphs of females prefer tan-striped males.

Learn more about the White-throated Sparrow. 

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Appearance:
Small sparrow
Brown crown with gray central stripe
Gray face and eyebrow
Brown line extending behind eye
Pale eye-ring
Grayish-brown upperparts with darker streaking
Buff breast and flanks with fine streaking
White throat and belly

Although very similar in appearance, the buff upper breast with its fine streaking distinguish the Lincoln's Sparrow from the Song Sparrow. Other differences include its smaller size and the lack of a spot in the center of its breast.

Listen to its call.

Learn more about the Lincoln's Sparrow. 

Harris's Sparrow

Zonotrichia querula

Appearance:
Large sparrow
Pink bill
Black bib, forehead and crown
Brown back with dark streaks
Underparts white with some streaks along side
Two white wing bars
Breeding plumage:
    Grey cheeks
Non-breeding plumage:
     Brown cheeks
Juveniles:
    Similar in appearance to non-breeding adults but lack the black face and head

Listen to its call.

The Harris's Sparrow is rarely found east or west of the middle of North America. So, I have to wonder what this foolhardy one was doing in a garden in Oak Bay. He appears to be overwintering in Victoria, having joined a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows. Apparently, it is not uncommon for smaller birds to form mixed-species flocks in winter. The benefits? It both improves foraging and reduces the risk of becoming prey.  hmmm .... Maybe this little one isn't featherbrained after all.

Learn more about the Harris's Sparrow.

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Appearance:
Tan back with dark streaks
Brown wings with wing bars
Unstreaked gray breast
Gray rump
Dark, conical bill
Slim, forked tail
Summer:
    Chestnut cap
    White eyebrow
    Black eyeline
Winter:
    Dull cap with streaks

Listen to its call.

I took a stroll in Mt Tolmie Park this afternoon. Its Garry Oak meadow is a lovely spot to wander through on a sunny afternoon. Although it was a bit windy today, there were still lots of birds to be seen and heard. I saw this fellow perched at the top of one of the old, gnarled oaks.

Learn more about the Chipping Sparrow.

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

 

Appearance:

• Grayish-brown upperparts with dark streaks
• White underparts with dark streaks
• Yellowish eyebrow stripe
• Thin, white crown stripe
• Short, forked tail

Listen to its call.

 

When I snapped this picture earlier today, I didn't even realize it was a new bird for me as it closely resembled a Song Sparrow. I was only when I got home and studied the photo that I saw the yellow lores, one of the distinguishing features of the Savannah Sparrow. This bird also lacks the Song Sparrow's prominent, central breast spot. Earlier this spring, a fellow birder told me that the song of this bird is often undetectable to people as they age because of its high pitch. Well, my hearing is just fine, thank you very much. The soft chips and trill made by this bird sound almost insect-like.

 

Learn more about the Savannah Sparrow.

Slate-coloured Junco

Subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis hyemalis

Appearance:
Medium-sized sparrow
Dark gray head, back and sides
White belly and outer tail features
Short, stout, pink bill

Listen to its call.

Technically, I probably should have just updated my earlier posting of the Oregon Junco, as this bird is another form of the Dark-eyed Junco. However, seeing as it was too snowy to find many birds out there today, I decided that this bird was different enough to deserve its own entry. After all, the two forms are quite different in appearance. I didn't even recognize today's bird of the day as the same species as the earlier one until I had searched my reference books multiple times. It had me totally stumped.  See for yourself.

"Slate-coloured Junco"

"Oregon Junco"

Learn more about the Dark-eyed Junco. 

Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

Description:

• Large sparrow
• Dark brown upperparts
• Pale underparts, heavily marked by dark triangular spots
• Two-tone bill - upper dark, lower yellow

Listen to its call. I frequently see these birds scratching away at fallen leaves or under bushes, foraging for food. You'd think they were the size of a fox by the racket they make. Obviously they don't get their name from being sneaky or sly. However, their constant movement makes them tricky to photograph.

This is the sooty variety of Fox Sparrow. There are three other sub-species, each occupying a different geographical region. Here's an interesting fact for you. The Fox Sparrow gets its name from the rufous-red plumage of the Eastern variety, which is the same colour as a fox.

Learn more about the Fox Sparrow.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia atricapilla

Appearance:
Brown-streaked upperparts 
Plain gray face and breast
Yellow crown stripe, flanked by two black stripes*
Brown wings with white wingbars

*In winter, the yellow crown is muted with little or no black.

Listen to its song.

Yes, it's time for another sparrow. I've seen quite a few of these ones around, although none at our feeders yet. Apparently, the golden-crowned sparrow will claim a specific spot at a feeder as its own, which it then uses exclusively. Sort of like calling shotgun I guess.

The photograph on the right was taken at the same time as the white-crown sparrows featured earlier this month. As you can see, it was a bit windy that day.  

Learn more about the Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Spotted Towhee

Pipilo maculatus

Appearance:

• Black hood and neck
• Black wings and back with white spots
• White breast and belly
• Rufus red sides
• Red eyes

Listen to its song.

Prior to starting this blog, I had never seen one of these birds.  Now, I frequently see them in our yard.  Coincidence?  Probably not. It's likely I just mistook them for robins, given their similar colouring.  I've now learned that the two birds aren't even related, one being a thrush and the other being a .... sparrow.  Oh no, not again.  I really had no idea. Sorry about that folks.

Learn more about the Spotted Towhee.

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

Appearance:
Reddish-brown crown
Gray face with brown streak through eye
Brown upper parts with dark streaks on back
Brown wings with some rust
White underparts with dark streaking
Central breast spot

Note: There is considerable variation in the colour of the plumage.

Listen to its song.

Do you ever feel like there are way too many sparrows in this world, or at least on this blog?  I promise this will be my last one for a while, if only because they are so difficult to tell apart.

Learn more about the Song Sparrow.

Additional photos:



White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Appearance:

Striped crown:
 - Black and white (adult)
 - Chestnut and gray (immature)
Pale gray throat and breast 
Gray face and nape
Pink or yellow bill
Brown wings with white bars

Listen to its song.

Walking along Beach Drive the other day, I was lucky enough to see these birds prancing around on the roof of an old shed with a flock of other sparrows, many of which I have yet to identify. (It's proving to be quite difficult. I had no idea there were so many different types of sparrows). The birds were putting on an especially entertaining show. A number of them were in their first winter and were quite comical, both in their appearance (see photo to left) and their performances. Aren't baby animals cute?

Learn more about the White-crowned Sparrow.

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Appearance:
Short-thick bill
Black mask
White cheeks and strip on shoulder
Grey crown

Black bib (varying in amount)*
Chestnut nape
Chestnut with black markings on back and wings
Whitish-grey belly

Listen to its song.

*NOTE: As winter progresses into spring, wear and preening expose a black bib on the male house sparrows. The female birds do not have this bib.

My plan today was to head to Swan Lake for my daily photo shoot with the birds. On the way, I stopped at Starbucks for a warm drink and encountered a whole flock of these birds in a bush outside the coffee shop. Rain had started to fall by the time I left the shop and the outside tables were deserted. If these birds were hanging around waiting for a crumb to fall, they would have been disappointed. On the other hand, I was quite pleased with their presence as it meant I was saved from having to venture out in the rain. I could delay my trip to Swan Lake until it was a little dryer. 

Learn more about the House Sparrow.

Oregon Junco

(subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco)
 
Junco hyemalis oreganus

Appearance:

Medium-sized sparrow
Short, stout, pink bill
Dark brown back and wings
Black hood and wing tips (female has grey hood)
White belly and outer tail feathers

Listen to its call.

Although the sun was shining this afternoon, frost still covered much of the grass in our backyard. This bird was foraging for spilled seed under the neighbour’s bird feeder. I’m contemplating hanging one of our own, strategically placed to allow me to take my photos through the window. Several hours later, I’m still trying to warm up after my photo shoot with the birds. It’s chilly out there today.

juvenile

Learn more about the Dark-eyed Junco.