Nature News
Sparrows Can Be Sensational!
A sparrow is a sparrow is a sparrow. Right? Wrong!
The sparrows you see at your backyard feeders may be American Tree Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows or Golden-crowned Sparrows.
And the English House Sparrow? He's no sparrow at all. House Sparrows actually belong to the weaver finch family; they are not a native North American bird.
Here are some facts that may help you distinguish the sparrows in your yard. A field guide also can be helpful. Birds of North America by Kenn Kaufman contains hundreds of bird images and comprehensive details to help you identify the birds in your backyard.
American Tree Sparrows typically live in northern forests and visit feeders only during migration. Many times they will scratch for millet underneath feeders. They have a large crop (or neck pouch) in which they can store up to 1,000 seeds.
Chipping Sparrows are shy at feeders when other birds are present. When these birds were studied in Arizona researchers discovered they ate seed every few seconds. During the winter-long study, a Chipping Sparrow consumed 2 1/4 pounds of seed - 160 times its body weight!
Song Sparrows have a wide range, and when it's cold they are hungry! These birds must eat 85 to 4,000 seeds an hour to maintain energy levels when the temperatures are freezing or below. They visit platform feeders in search of millet and sunflower seed pieces. And they like to have a nearby brush pile (to escape danger if necessary).
White-throated Sparrows are one of the most widespread sparrows at feeders. There are two types - one has white stripes on its crown and the other has tan stripes. These birds follow a well-defined hierarchy, which puts males ahead of females and older sparrows ahead of younger sparrows.
White-crowned Sparrows tend to visit feeders early and late in the day. They enjoy millet and also will eat sunflower chips and cracked corn. They will avoid conflicts when eating by facing the same direction as other birds. Some White-crowned Sparrows migrate; others do not. Those that migrate join larger winter flocks and establish communal territory. They usually return each winter to the same area.
Golden-crowned Sparrows live in California eight months of the year and spend winter along a narrow strip of the West Coast. They form large winter flocks and cover 15 to 20 acres. They avoid face-to-face conflict with other birds while feeding (like the White-crowned Sparrows) by facing the same direction while feeding.
To attract sparrows, place a blend containing millet and sunflower seeds in a ground feeder such as the Cedar Ground Feeder from Wild Birds Unlimited. Our stores sell a variety of regionally formulated custom seed blends, including Select, Deluxe and No-Mess, that can be attractive to sparrows. Stop by a store soon and talk with a Certified Birdfeeding Specialist.