March 5, 2026
The Sky’s the Limit for This Birder
Fewer than 500 people worldwide have reported seeing this African bird – a blue-moustached bee-eater. Photo by Marc Chelemer By…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
February 27, 2008
BIRDS: Yikes, sparrows
Let me begin by saying that I am not a big fan of sparrows.
They clog the feeder, and to the untrained eye (mine), they are pretty much birds of the same (unspectacular) feather.
But ignorance is not always bliss, and when a friend looked out my window and said, "Hey, you’ve got a somewhat unusual sparrow below your feeder," I sat up and took note (and a few photos).
(Click "Continue reading…" immediately below.)
The sparrow in question turned out to be a tree sparrow, and as my friend pointed out, the bird had a two-toned beak — dark on top and lighter below.
The tree sparrow is a winter guest. In the summer he is in Canada eating insects.
As anyone who has been to parkland in Canada knows, Canada is chock full of bugs in the summer.
These days, he is a seed-eater and feeder frequenter, so enjoy him while you can.
Read more about this little guy here.
As it turned out, there was another different sparrow by the feeder, a song sparrow (below).
This guy has a streaked chest and, by sparrow standards, a somewhat flashy dresser.
More on the song sparrow here.
The sparrows I typically get are my feeders are white-throats (which I like because I can ID them with confidence) and black-throated browns, one of the more-polite nicknames for house sparrows.
6 comments
-
this has been seen occasionally outside my classroom in Englewood
-
Very interesting. In what town are you located?
Thanks.
Jim -
Here’s a link to my photo of – what I’m told by Flickr birders- is a partial albinistic house sparrow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19376431@N00/2245340552/
who knew…spotted it outside my classroom at my feeders….. -
Jim,
Very disappointed in your lack of love for LBJ’s! They can be a very challenging and ejoyable group of birds. But to each his own. At least we can agree on the joy of Owls! -
The blog continues to be a learning experience for me, too.
I initially had identified the song sparrow as a chipping sparrow. Doh!
Thanks,
Jim -
Jim, I somewhat share your sentiments regarding sparrows but still find your links to the Cornell site a nice touch. This blog continues to be a valuable learning experience for all of us. Keep up the good work! Chris
Leave your comment
Related Post
March 3, 2026
First Review: ‘The Peregrine Falcon’
I am pleased to share Booklist's magazine of my upcoming book... The Peregrine Falcon: The Epic Life and Times of…February 27, 2026
Revolutionary News!
On Thursday, the Allendale Borough Council plans to honor Founding Father John Fell, who was known as the "Great Tory…
February 20, 2026
World’s Largest Pigeon!
For a limited time only, The High Line in Manhattan is home to "Dinosaur," a huge statue of a pigeon…
6 comments
nan
this has been seen occasionally outside my classroom in Englewood
Jim Wright
Very interesting. In what town are you located?
Thanks.
Jim
nan
Here’s a link to my photo of – what I’m told by Flickr birders- is a partial albinistic house sparrow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19376431@N00/2245340552/
who knew…spotted it outside my classroom at my feeders…..
Vern
Jim,
Very disappointed in your lack of love for LBJ’s! They can be a very challenging and ejoyable group of birds. But to each his own. At least we can agree on the joy of Owls!
Jim Wright
The blog continues to be a learning experience for me, too.
I initially had identified the song sparrow as a chipping sparrow. Doh!
Thanks,
Jim
Chris Kobelin
Jim, I somewhat share your sentiments regarding sparrows but still find your links to the Cornell site a nice touch. This blog continues to be a valuable learning experience for all of us. Keep up the good work! Chris