Sparrows

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Below will be a collection of North American sparrows, those "little brown jobs" that frustrate so many birders. Perhaps some of the photos here will be helpful in learning what to look for in this confusing group of birds. Once learned, sparrows are not so difficult after all! Be patient as I add more species...thanks! Note that several other "sparrow-like" birds such as House Sparrow and House Finch, both widespread in the United States, are not included here since they are not true sparrows. The House Sparrow is in the weaver family and the House Finch in the finch family. Many people have contacted me after trying to identify "sparrows" on their urban bird feeders and telling me they did not find the birds shown here. While many of these native American sparrows will visit bird feeders (especially in rural areas), few of these birds will show up in an urban backyard. The House Sparrow and House Finch, mentioned above, are both common visitors to urban bird feeders. Many of the native sparrows will remain in native grass and brushlands at all times of the year.

Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus) Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus) Abert's Towhee (Pipilo aberti) Rufous-winged Sparrow (Aimophila carpalis) Cassin's Sparrow (Aimophila cassinii) Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) Botteri's Sparrow (Aimophila botterii) Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) Worthen's Sparrow (Spizella wortheni) Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli) Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) Yellow-eyed Junco (Junco phaeonotus) McCown's Longspur (Calcarius mccownii) Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)