Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina At close range it is easy to see the bright rufous cap of the compact little Chipping Sparrow. The bird gets its name from its song, a series of "chip" notes, sometimes run together in a fast trill. Common in residential areas, this sparrow is very tame; it often visits feeders, and may take crumbs from a person's hand.

Identification Adult has black forehead, rusty crown, white eyebrow, and black eye stripe. Upperparts streaked in brown and black, with 2 white wing bars; underparts, cheek, and back of neck clear gray. Immature buffier, more streaked, without bold black and white markings or rusty crown.

Voice A thin, insectlike trill on 1 note. Call a sweet, high tseep

Habitat Forest edges, orchards, brushy pastures, city parks, and gardens.

Range Breeds throughout most of Canada and south throughout United States to S. Arizona, New Mexico, and S. Texas; absent from most of Florida. Winters from S. California, S. Texas, and Maryland southward.