American Tree Sparrow

Comment

Comment by Denis A. Doucet on February 9, 2011 at 9:22am

Hi Gerry,

I have about a dozen most days, sometimes more. I am finding they are more shy than the chickadees and redpolls, but much less than the jays and doves. I had getting decent pics of these guys as a priority this winter and I am pleased to report I am doing OK!

Comment by Gerry Mazerolle on February 9, 2011 at 7:07am

A real beautiful photo Denis.  I only have one that has been here since Christmas and he is very shy . He likes coming out very late in the day.  Do you have more than one?

Comment by Denis A. Doucet on February 9, 2011 at 6:48am

Thanks Laura,

I am very fond of this species. It is one of my very favourite winter birds. They have a very melodic, bell-like call that really brightens up the cold winter mornings. Sparrows are indeed tough, but at least identifiable by sight using some good characters. The two-tone beak on this guy, as well as the stick-pin dark spot on an unstreaked belly and rusty cap are very useful in its case. Also, given they are really only here between late fall and mid spring help, as there are less kinds of sparrow to sort through MOST of the time they are present.

Comment by Laura Hare on February 9, 2011 at 4:25am

What a great portrait of this little brown bird ... I find it hard to id all the different sparrows,something I need to study a lot more.