Some Good Sparrows

First, a reminder that there are bad sparrows. English Sparrows/House Sparrows are little terrorists, killing cavity nesting birds like Bluebirds by pecking off their heads.

I've had it happen in one of my nest boxes. But don't take my word for it. Read about it here.

Now, on to a couple of the good sparrows that nest in Violet Acres, SW Michigan.

The little White-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) scratch around in the spilled seed on the ground under the feeders.

At a length of almost seven inches, they are one of the largest in the sparrow family.


This head-on picture shows the big feet, almost like chicken feet, that they use to scratch like chickens - back and forth, back and forth.

It also shows the pretty white throat.


The smaller, more delicate, Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina), is five inches long. They also like to eat on the ground under the feeder, but they supplement their seed diet with insects caught in the air.

Chipping Sparrows are named after their noise, Chip - - - Chip - - - Chip. I can't bring myself to call it a song because it isn't. But I enjoy them anyway.