Did you know that song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) are the most abundant breeding bird in Pennsylvania? All they need are tall grasses, shrubs or trees to thrive in marshes, suburbs, farmland, or along roadsides.
At the National Aviary’s Neighborhood Nestwatch events, song sparrows are a target species and the one most often banded. This may have been true yesterday at Nestwatch at Donna Foyle’s, but the birds avoided the mist nets! Bander Becca Ralston had to change the net locations several times before this song sparrow came in.
Song sparrows are boring “Little Brown Jobs” (LBJs) from afar but they’re fascinating up close. Notice the intricate pattern and subtle shades of brown on this bird’s head. You can see the feather-eyelashes that circle his eye. His eyes are black from a distance, but up close you can see that they’re really brown.
Cool!
(photos by Kate St. John)
Beautyfull little birds, they are in my neighbourhood also.
Not to mention their beautiful song! I have 2 in my yard this year, we have nearby wetlands. It’s a treat to hear them sing and have the song amplified by the wetlands as well as see them at my feeders.
Thanks for this piece on the song sparrow. Since this article also ties in neighborhood nest watching, I wonder if I stumbled on a nest. While out walking locally, I heard two robins, one appeared to be a female, chirping very loudly above me on a branch as I neared. Usually robins will fly away, but these two held their ground on a low hanging branch above me. I looked up briefly as I walked by, but did not linger as they were quite agitated. I did not see a nest. They even chirped loudly for a bit after I passed by. Almost felt like they were saying ‘stay away’. I’m thinking of altering my walking route, just to keep from disturbing them.
For the past couple of years we’ve had song sparrows nesting in ornamental grass on our property in Point Breeze or in bushes in neighboring yards. They frequently hop about our yard and sidewalk looking for food. They seem to be amazingly bold LBJs. Unlike other sparrows and finches who take flight quickly when a human is moving anywhere in the vicinity, the song sparrows continue calmly going about their business until you are within a very few feet of them.