Posted by ppeery on March 12th, 2010

CHIPPING SPARROW – Spizella passrina

The chipping sparrows are arriving back, singing their cheerful songs.  They breed in most of the states, except Florida, and in Canada and eastern Alaska.  These sparrows winter in Florida and to the north along the coast to Maryland and in Mexico.   So spring must be coming!!

Chipping sparrows are among the “non-streaked” sparrows: they have no streaks on their breasts.  The rich chestnut crown or cap is distinctive.

The song of the chipping sparrow varies considerably from one male to another, but is distinctive for each male.  Thus you can learn to identify individual males by their songs.  The male usually delivers his song from a conspicuous spot, making him easy to find.  The song is a series of “chips”, sometimes as musical as the pine warbler, with other male’s songs almost mechanical in quality.  The territory of a pair is only about half an acre so we may encounter several males in a short walk. The female arrives on the breeding ground a week or more after the male and nest building starts soon after.

Once nest building begins the female makes frequent trips with grasses or hair in her beak, and she is not shy about leading you to the nest, which is low to the ground.  The  birds line the nest with hair, and if no horse hair (preferred) is available they will use any type of hair, even plucking it from a sleeping dog.  They prefer open areas with shrubs or “edge” habitat.  In the morning during nest building there is frequent copulation.

Three or four pale blue eggs with blotches or spots are laid one day at a time.  Incubation by the female begins the day before the last egg is laid and continues for 11-12 days.  The nestling phase is 7-10 days.  During incubation and most of the brooding the male feeds the female, and the young after hatching.  After fledging the young perch on nearby twigs and branches and begin to learn to fly.   By four days after leaving the nest they can fly well.   The parents continue to feed them outside the nest for three to four weeks.   The parents will prepare for a second brood while still feeding the first youngsters; during this time there is renewed singing and copulation.

The predominant food of chipping sparrow is seeds, but during breeding and feeding the young insects are included, increasing the protein of the diet.

The calls of the chipping sparrow are reminiscent of the song.  You can hear the song at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chipping_Sparrow/sounds

Dorothy Tompkins – Master Naturalist and Bundoran Farm Steward

Filed under: General, Nature/Environment