Females and the young do not have
the black throat and they are a grayish color below.
House Sparrows are often seen in large
flocks, which will roost in evergreens or other bushes.
The flocks will often include finches, especially in
autumn or winter.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Song Sparrows are 5 to 7 inches.
They have a light brown head
with a white streak that runs from the beak over the top
of the eye to the back of the head. The adults
have a streaked breast with a black spot in the center.
Young birds have finer steaks and may not have the spot.
There are variations from one area to another.
A white stripe from the bill to the back
of the head, and another over the eye identifies this
sparrow. The crown has a puffy look to it.
Their breast is gray. In younger birds the head stripe is more of a brown
color. Size is about 5 1/2 to 7 inches.
There are 5 subspecies with variations from one area to
another and telling them
apart can be difficult.
House Sparrows range across North
America and can be found in cities, farmlands or in the
country. They live mostly where we humans live. It
is estimated that the population is around 150,000,000
birds. The numbers get lower each year.
Song Sparrows also range across North
America. They prefer marshes and thickets.
White Crowned Sparrows range through
Alaska, Canada and Western U.S. They spend the winter in
West or South U.S. Mexico and Cuba. They can be
found in towns, the country and along roadsides.
Their preferred habitat is low brush and thickets.
Breeding and Nesting
House Sparrows will generally build
cup-shaped nests in trees, bushes, under eves and in
other places. They may have 2 to 3 broods in season.
They nest in colonies, but both sexes will choose and
defend a small territory. Females lay 5 to 6
speckled or spotted eggs. The spots can be brown,
purple or black. Their eggs are whitish but can be
tinged greenish or blue-gray.
Song Sparrows build their nest on the
ground or in a bush. They will have 3 to 5
greenish white eggs with dark marks. The female will
incubating the eggs. Both parents will feed the
young a diet of mostly insects.
White Crowned Sparrows will lay 3 to 5
bluish green pale eggs in a cup like nest on or near the
ground.
Song and Call
The chir-up and twittering song of the
House Sparrow can be heard all year long. Both
sexes will sing.
Song Sparrows sing a series of notes
that vary from musical to a buzzy sound.
Note on some browsers you will not be able to see or use
the drop down sound list. If you can't use it try
the sound links below.
Sparrows are frequent visitors to
backyard feeders. There often be more birds then there
is room for, but they are happy to scratch the ground
for seeds falling from the feeders. White crowned
sparrows are more likely to feed on the ground.
Like
most birds that come to feeders they are also attracted
to water. As shown here, even a dog water dish can
be popular.
Natural foods for Sparrows are insects, seeds
and berries.
runs from the beak over the top
of the eye to the back of the head. The adults
have a streaked breast with a black spot in the center.
over the eye identifies this
sparrow. The crown has a puffy look to it.
Their breast is gray. In younger birds the head stripe is more of a brown
color. Size is about 5 1/2 to 7 inches.
Like
most birds that come to feeders they are also attracted
to water. As shown here, even a dog water dish can
be popular. 
