Spizella passerina
breeding adult
Thanks to its association with manmade habitats, the Chipping Sparrow is a familiar species. The sexes are similar but there is seasonal plumage variation. Breeding adults have a brown back with dark streaks, and buffish-brown wings with two whitish wingbars. The tail is dark and the pale gray rump is usually seen only in flight. The head pattern comprises a chestnut crown, a white supercilium, and a dark eye stripe. The throat is whitish and the underparts are otherwise pale gray. Non-breeding adults are similar, but the brown crown has a pale central stripe and the supercilium is paler buff. Juveniles are like a non-breeding adult but are heavily streaked; by their first winter, they resemble a pale non-breeding adult.
The Chipping Sparrow is present as a breeding species across most of central and northern North America, mainly from May to September. Most of the population migrates south in fall, boosting resident numbers in the south; its winter range extends to Central America. Outside the breeding season it often forms flocks. In town parks and gardens, birds are often tame.
non-breeding adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5.5 in (14 cm)
FOOD Mainly seeds, with invertebrates in spring and summer
HABITAT Open wooded habitats, including parks and gardens
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor, partial resident, and winter visitor
VOICE Song is a rattling trill. Call is a thin tzip
