The Chipping Sparrow ( Spizella passerina) stands out as one of North America's most familiar and widely distributed migratory songbirds. While the term "songbird" might seem a bit of a misnomer, given its song - a uniform trill on a single pitch, comprised of a rapid series of tssips - this bird has adapted remarkably well to human-altered landscapes.
Habitat and Distribution
Unlike many sparrow species typically associated with grassland communities, the Chipping Sparrow favors open woodlands, the borders of natural forest openings, the edges of rivers and lakes, and brushy, weedy fields. Its inclination to nest in groves and open glades of coniferous forests and forage in brushy open areas makes it well-suited to human-modified habitats, including gardens and parks in many areas. The original breeding habitat of the Chipping Sparrow was likely open pine woods, coniferous forest edges, and savannas with scattered conifers.
This species is common across North America wherever trees are interspersed with grassy openings. Chipping Sparrows are found throughout most of North America. They prefer open, riparian forests with shrubby undergrowth. They are also frequently found in suburban areas, urban parks, orchards, and other human-modified landscapes, as well as scrub and mountainous regions.
The Chipping Sparrow is common and widespread, and its numbers are probably stable.
Physical Characteristics
The Chipping Sparrow is a small sparrow, with males and females exhibiting similar plumages. The body length ranges from 127 to 147mm, with males being slightly larger than females. The body mass in summer ranges from 11.0 to 15.5 g, with females often heavier than males.
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In summer, adults sport a distinctive bright rufous to chestnut brown crown, a distinct white superciliary line (eyebrow), and black lores and eye-stripe. They have a gray rump, an unstreaked gray breast and flanks blending into a dull white belly, and a black bill that is frequently pale brown at the base of the lower mandible. Winter plumage is less contrasting, with the chestnut color partly obscured. Juveniles are streaky at first and retain some streaks into the fall. Dull fall birds can resemble Clay-Colored Sparrows and Brewer's Sparrows, but they have a gray, not brown, rump.
Migration Patterns
The Chipping Sparrow often migrates in flocks, with migration spread over a long period in both spring and fall. In the Bozeman area, normal migration periods are from May 5 to June 10 and August 20 to September 25. Populations of Chipping Sparrows may migrate or be year-round residents. Migration occurs in April and in the northern parts of their range in May, while fall migration is in September and October. Some Chipping Sparrow populations in Nicaragua may be resident year-round.
Nesting Habits
Chipping Sparrows breed from mid to late April through July. They typically nest within a few weeks of arriving on the breeding grounds, choosing a nest site usually in a conifer tree or shrub from 1 to 3 meters above ground. Nests are usually built in thick vegetation to provide cover. The nest, built by the female, is a compact open cup made of grass, weeds, and rootlets, lined with fine grass and animal hair. At one time, the Chipping Sparrow was well known for using horsehair in its nest lining.
The female lays 3-4, rarely 2-5, pale blue-green eggs with markings of brown, purple, and black mostly at the larger end. Clutch size is most commonly four. The eggs are subelliptical to short subelliptical in shape. The female incubates the eggs for about 11-14 days; the male may feed the female during incubation. Both parents feed the nestlings, and the young leave the nest about 8-12 days after hatching. The pair may raise 2 broods per year. If a nest is destroyed, another will be built and a second clutch attempted.
Feeding Ecology
The Chipping Sparrow forages mostly on the ground, but also up in shrubs and low trees. It occasionally makes short flights to catch insects in mid-air. Except when nesting, it usually forages in flocks. The diet of the Chipping Sparrow varies with the season.
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Summer Diet
In summer, the Chipping Sparrow feeds mostly on insects, including grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, leafhoppers, true bugs, and many others, plus some spiders. During the breeding season, a larger proportion of the diet may be animal prey.
Fall and Winter Diet
In fall and winter, the Chipping Sparrow eats many seeds, especially those of grasses, weeds, and some waste grain. They feed primarily on seeds of grasses and various annual plants, infrequently supplementing this diet with small fruits.
Foraging Behavior
Chipping Sparrows forage alone or with their mate, as well as in flocks that travel together. They may glean food from the ground or directly from leaves and stems.
Social Behavior
The Chipping Sparrow was once widely accepted as a typically territorial and monogamous species. However, evidence from Ontario challenges this assumption, revealing that a few males have more than one mate. When males arrive on the breeding grounds and establish a territory, they defend it with songs and chase away intruders or perform displays on the ground. Mated pairs display to each other by collecting nest materials together. Females solicit food from males as well. Extra-pair copulations have been observed, suggesting that some males search for additional mating opportunities. Pair bonds are formed throughout the season.
Conservation Status
The Chipping Sparrow is common and widespread, and its numbers are probably stable. However, nests are often parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds. The Chipping Sparrow is affected by changes of habitats, such as logging and secondary regrowth of forests. However, it has adapted well to suburban areas.
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Threats
Nests are vulnerable to predation and extreme weather.
Vocalizations
The Chipping Sparrow has a thin musical trill, all on one note like the whir of a sewing machine. Vocalizations are used for contact calls, threats, or begging. Males sing throughout the day during the breeding season from an elevated perch.
Identifying the Chipping Sparrow
Particularly in fall and winter, watch for small flocks of Chipping Sparrows feeding on open ground near trees. In spring and summer, listen for the male’s long, loud trill, then look for the male in the upper branches of a nearby tree.
Backyard Tips
Chipping Sparrows will eat many kinds of birdseed, particularly black oil sunflower seeds from feeders, but also seed mixes scattered on the ground. Shrubs or small trees in your yard may entice Chipping Sparrows to build a nest.