Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerinaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

General

Chipping Sparrow: Medium-sized, slender sparrow with black-streaked brown back and pale gray underparts. Cap is rufous, nape is gray, throat is white, and face stripes are black-and-white. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has black-streaked brown crown. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but has streaked underparts.

Range and Habitat

Chipping Sparrow: Breeds throughout most of the continent from Yukon, Manitoba, and Newfoundland south to California, Texas, northern Florida, and Mexico. Spends winters across southern U.S. southward into Mexico. Preferred habitats include grassy woodland edges, gardens, city parks, brushy pastures, and lawns.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"chip--chip-chip-chip-chip"

Interesting Facts

The head pattern of the Chipping Sparrow changes in fall and winter.

Their nest is so flimsy that light can be seen through it.

During the breeding season, the female develops a bare patch on her abdomen that fills with fluid. This allows more efficient transfer of heat to the eggs.

A group of Chipping Sparrows are collectively known as a "tournament" of sparrows.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow: Medium, slender sparrow with black-streaked brown back and pale gray underparts. Cap is rufous, nape is gray, throat is white, and face stripes are black-and-white. Black bill. Pink-orange legs and feet. Short flight, alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Song: "chip--chip-chip-chip-chip"

● Foraging & Feeding: Chipping Sparrow: Feeds on insects and seeds; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Chipping Sparrow: Two to five blue green eggs, marked with dark brown, blue, and black, are laid in a solid cup of grass and stems, usually lined with hair, and built in shrubbery or in a tangle of vines. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Chipping Sparrow: Clay-colored Sparrow has more distinct whiskers and buff breast. Brewer's Sparrow has indistinct stripe behind eye and eye-ring.

Flight Pattern

Short flights with rapid wing beats.

● Range & Habitat: Chipping Sparrow: Breeds throughout most of the continent from Yukon, Manitoba, and Newfoundland south to California, Texas, northern Florida, and Mexico. Spends winters across southern U.S. southward into Mexico. Preferred habitats include grassy woodland edges, gardens, city parks, brushy pastures, and lawns.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationWidespread

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight0.4 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America