Thursday, October 09, 2008

Sparrow Visitors


Whenever I see this handsome little sparrow in my feeder area it is always a special sighting to me. Today we have at least two and they are both very busy foraging for seeds on the ground and in the grass under our feeders. These White-crowned Sparrows are seasonal visitors dropping by on their way through our region during their spring and autumn migration. I wait for them every year and delight in their visits which will last for about five days duration.
The most regular of bird visitors right now are Chipping Sparrows. I can at any minute look out my windows and be quite sure that within a second or so I can count one, or two or five.... feeding at our feeders. They will remain here until sometime in November and then one day I will notice they are gone; but a similar looking sparrow cousin, the American Tree Sparrow, will have replaced them.
The first sparrow I learned to id was a Song Sparrow. These sparrows run a second to the Chipping Sparrow for numbers at our bird feeders right now. These sparrows are bigger than the little Chipping Sparrows and its larger size makes it easier to pick them out from a group of sparrows all feeding together.

Earlier this week we had a White-throated Sparrow make an appearance and we will perhaps still see a Savannah Sparrow at our feeders this season, and maybe a Song Sparrow or two will winter over too, but that is not a sure thing.

10 comments:

Guy D said...

Great pics, your header photo is outstanding. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

http://reginainpictures.blogspot.com/

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Lovely pictures and narrative.Enjoy the special Sparrows,tell them I will be waiting to welcome them in spring.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I love sparrows of any kind, such underated birds. These are exceptional images.

2sweetnsaxy said...

Awww...they're so cute. Nice shots! :-)

Unknown said...

Gorgeous photos! Send the white crowns south!!! I miss them! They haven't wintered here in several years. If you see any fox sparrows send them on too.

Rambling Woods said...

The last chipping sparrow left Buffalo, so I will wait for the migrants and winter visitors. I loved seeing your sparrows..

Anonymous said...

Your sparrows are prettier than our sparrows!

Mary said...

I wish all my sparrows would show up for the bird count! So far I've just seen House Sparrows. I miss the White crowns and White Throats. Great photos! I rushed to get my feeders filled up again today, so everyone will come back :-)

Leedra said...

Never seen a White Crowned Sparrow, very different. Nice photograph series.

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