CHIPPING SPARROW

CHIPPING SPARROW(Spizella passerina) – (See images below)
DESCRIPTION: The Chipping Sparrow in breeding plumage has a rusty cap, an eye black band and a light grey band above the eye. The neck, breast and belly are grey and the top parts brown with light beige borders on each feather. The tail is rather long and forked. The bill is dark and the legs are beige. Sexes are similar. Winter plumage duller. Length about 13 cm (5 inches).
VOICE: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Spizella-passerina – The song is a long trill.
NAME: The English name ‘Sparrow’ derives from Anglo-Saxon ‘Spearwa’, which means ‘flutterer’. Latin genus name ‘Spizella’ means ‘a little finch’. Latin species name ‘passerina’ means ‘like a sparrow’.
HABITAT: Woodlands, forest edges, park.
DIET: Insects and seeds.
NESTING: Nest usually placed low in a tree or shrub, made of loosely assembled material. Three or four light blue-green eggs are laid, incubated by the female. Chicks fed by both parents.
DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in Canada up to the tree line, also most of USA except the south. Year-round resident in southeast USA and central Mexico.  Winters in Florida and the remainder of Mexico.
DISTRIBUTION MAP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipping_sparrow#/media/File:Spizella_passerina_map.svg
ON PEI: Breeds on Prince Edward Island and common in the summer.
CONSERVATION: Species would number around 230 million, not at risk.
NOTES: This passerine gathers in flocks outside the breeding season and can be seen around bird feeders.
SIMILAR SPECIES: American Tree Sparrow, Field Sparrow
REFERENCES: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/chipping-sparrow
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/chipping-sparrow (Missouri Department of Conservation)
http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABPBX94020 (Montana Field Guide)
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Spizella_passerina/ (University of Michigan)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chipping_Sparrow/id
https://identify.whatbird.com/obj/237/overview/Chipping_Sparrow.aspx

Chipping Sparrow, breeding plumage – Souris, PEI – May 6, 2014 – © Joanne Dunphy
Chipping sparrow, PEI, by Joanne Dunphy
Chipping Sparrow – York area, PEI – June 2019 – © Denise Motard
Chipping sparrow back view, PEI