The House Sparrows that were so numerous

for all the years that I lived in Chicago are

very rare here. In fact, I’ve only seen two of

them, and got just this one shot of a female.

Although this photo doesn’t show it, what

shocked me is how vibrant the plumage is

compared to the bland, dull birds that I was

used to. They look like different species. I

had to check the book to discover that I was

actually looking at a House Sparrow (Passer

domesticus). And I’m sure that there isn’t a

separate “big city” subspecies, so I can only

assume that the birds in the city are dirty,

and now I’m able to see the House Sparrow’s

true colors.

With other sparrows, I have so little opportunity to get decent photos of them

that I’ll include a few shots of them just to document that they are around.

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 8 February 2010

This bird looks like a cross between a Song Sparrow

and a White-throated Sparrow, but it has a longer

yellow eyebrow, a white line in the center or its

crown, and a notched tail. Those traits make this

the Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis),

photographed on 15 January 2011.

The other most frequent sparrow visitor to my yard is the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).

Like the Song Sparrow, if I don’t see them throughout the rest of the year, I’m sure to have them come

in snowy winter weather. As you can see, they are aptly named, with their brilliant white throat against a

gray, non-striped breast,and they also sport a yellow spot between the eye and bill...although on some

birds that doesn’t show up well.

©Bob Vuxinic

14 Jan 2012