Coastal BC Birds: Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
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| A Song Sparrow visits the cabin in January 2016. |
I assume it was a male because they winter farther north to get early access to prime breeding areas. Spring came, and sure enough he disappeared.
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| A Song Sparrow returns to our cabin in late October 2016. |
Then, guess who returned, Mr. Song Sparrow. I'm glad to have him to keep us company again this winter. The seed feeder is ready to help him to stay plump and fat.
Song Sparrows are year-round residents of Coastal BC. However, I don't hear their melodic songs because it's outside of the breeding system. Here's my Song Sparrow giving his common chip note.
He flies is short, fluttering bursts, giving me lots of time to get good pictures. While he's perched, usually on the ground, he continues to flutter, hop and flick his tail in a friendly sort of way. I'm so glad he returned, at least I like to image he's my old friend who has adopted the underside of my cabin as his winter cottage.
Last year I wasn't sure about my identification. Google images are a great way to Then I discovered WhatBird.com. I used the bird identification tool and narrowed it down. Then I discovered their forum section and joined. Within a day, site experts identified my little guy as a northwestern subspecies of Song Sparrow. This subspecies tends to be darker than its southern relatives. -- Margy
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Hello, they are pretty. One of my favorite sparrows. Great post and video. Thank you for linking up and sharing you post! Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and thanks again for sponsoring Saturday's Critters. - Margy
DeleteI love sparrows and this painting of yours is so magical and beautiful ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you a special week ~ ^_^
I love bird watching. I don't get that many but Mom does a few blocks away as her condo backs into old growth forest which the birds love!
ReplyDeleteWe have a part-time condo in Bellingham that backs up to a riparian area. It too is a great place to watch birds. - Margy
Deletehe's adorable. love his reflection/shadow in the first shot, too.
ReplyDeleteI am not very good with names, but I sure like to hear birds in the garden. Your photo and video are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI do miss all of their songs now that summer has gone. - Margy
DeleteA sweet and favorite bird - love their good manners of sitting for a few photographs.
ReplyDeleteHere in Port Neville, the song sparrows are definitely year round. We had a nesting pair this summer in the bush behind the cabin, and the male serenaded us all summer long. Now they are quiet, but I still see them hopping around in the bush and hunting insects in the yard. After all our summer bird friends have flown south, it's nice to still have a few of our year round birds to keep things interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful homestead in Port Neville. I love reading about your life up there. I agree, a few winter birds help tide us over until spring comes again. - Margy
DeleteSuch a darling little bird and lovely photos and video.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful little bird :-) Lovely photos
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, he is a beautiful bird.
ReplyDeleteI love your spots! I learn so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for all the comments about my little Song Sparrow. - Margy
ReplyDelete