Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow breeding plumage

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Chipping Sparrow non-breeding plumage

Chipping Sparrow, juvenile

Chipping Sparrow nest

Chipping Sparrow eggs with Brown-headed Cowbird egg.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A common small sparrow of yards, gardens, and forest openings, the Chipping Sparrow is probably best known for its dry, trilling song. One of the smallest sparrows, it commonly nests in ornamental evergreens.

Description

• Small sparrow.
• Breast unmarked.
• Rufous crown.
• White line above eye.
• Black stripe through eye.

• Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 19-21 cm (7-8 in)
• Weight: 11-15 g (0.39-0.53 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes appear similar; female averages duller, often with crown flecked with dark brown.

Sound

Song a long mechanical trill.

Conservation Status

The Chipping Sparrow has benefited from the modification of North America over the last several hundred years; populations appear healthy.

Other Names

Bruant familier, Pinson familier (French)
Gorrión ceja blanca, Chimbito comun (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Instead of having simple molts like most birds and changing its body feathers once or twice a year, the Chipping Sparrow may change the feathers of its face and throat up to six times in one year. The rest of the body feathers are only replaced once or twice in the same period.

• The nest of the Chipping Sparrow is of such flimsy construction that light can be seen through it. It probably provides little insulation for the eggs and young.

Sources used to construct this page:

Middleton, A. L. A. 1998. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina). In The Birds of North America, No. 334 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.