Have you looked closely at the sparrows? There are many different varieties that visit our gardens and many times we tend to just refer to them as sparrows instead of their actual name.
One of the most distinctive sparrows that is easily identified is the white crowned sparrow.
This is a medium sized sparrow, with a brown body similar to other sparrows but with the distinctive black and white striped head. I say they have their bike helmets on!
This is one of the few birds where the male and female look just about the same.
These sparrows prefer seeds and insects and most often are seen foraging on the ground under the feeders but I’ve seen them on the flat feeder and the suet feeder.
These sparrows pass through our garden in fairly large groups during May and then again in October while on their way to and from their breeding grounds in northern Canada.
The white crowned sparrows are passing through the garden now.
Other species of sparrows that visit our garden are, house, tree, song, chipping, white throated, white crowned. There are many other varieties in other parts of the world as well.
Have you spotted any of these lens friends in your garden?
Variety of sparrows
- all sparrows
- chipping sparrows
- house sparrows
- white crowned sparrows
- white throated sparrows
Jeannie
I have never seen a white-crowned sparrow before. I like learning something new every day.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
Linda
I didn’t realise that there were different types of sparrows, I’ll have to see if I can spot any of these in my garden.
Crafty Gardener
We only get a few of the varieties of sparrows, there are lots more, perhaps you get different ones in the UK.
Myrtle
I am sure I have seen these sparrows and being they looked like sparrows but the helmet, as you called their black & white crown I was not sure what they were. I will be watching as much as I can with this darn rain.
Crafty Gardener
These rainy days are getting more depressing than lockdown!! At least when the weather is nice we can get out into the garden. The hummingbird has been visiting the feeder for the last couple of days. They don’t seem to mind the rain. Keep smiling.