Chipping sparrows are sometimes called the “social sparrow.” Some say they may even learn to feed from your hand. ID: light grey-breasted bird with rufous cap and black eye stripe. Its back is brown with black striping, male and female identical. Bill is black during breeding season and then turns brown. The cap and eye stripe become duller after breeding. Size: 13-15cm, 5” or small sized, slender bird. Status: common. In North Wellington, it is seen from early April to early November. They will hold out (arriving) until the weather really does start warming up. Habitat: Having some conifers or small shrubs in your yard will increase your chance of having these birds nest in your yard. They prefer being closer to the ground, so having a birdbath on the ground will draw them in more than a pedestal style. Nesting: Will not normally nest in man-made structures. They may rarely, though, find a spot that suits their fancy. Natural nests (are) usually in conifer, vines and shrubbery, made with grass and animal hair. House Sparrows compete for nest sites. However, House Sparrows are reportedly declining in numbers.
Feeding: diet consists of seeds, insects and occasionally berries. Try scattering seeds and crumbs over a wide area on the ground. Will also come to salt blocks, suet feeders, peanut butter and oats. Winters: After breeding, and before migration, small flocks of up to 50 birds forage together. Winters in southern USA.
The Wellington County Library system has added an impressive new bird book on its shelf. It is called The Backyard Bird Sanctuary – A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Wild Bird Habitat at Home. Author Alan Baczkiewicz has been an avid birder some forty years. His spotting list totals more than 400 species to date. Very enviable indeed.
Resources: The Backyard Bird Sanctuary, Birds of Ontario, Audubon and Backyard Bird-Lover’s Guides.
-Submitted by Susan Warren
