BACK

American Tree Sparrow

(Spizella arborea)

Photo: Ron Austing

Size             : 5.5 - 6.5 inches long (14 - 16 cm)

Description      : Male   - Head is gray with a reddish cap - differs from Chipping Sparrow in that it 
                            also has a black spot on its breast; has an ear-stripe; streaked brown above,
                            plain gray below; black wing tips with white accents; also similar to Field 
                            Sparrow, but larger and without white eye-ring or pink bill
                   Female - Same as male

Preferred Habitat: Open country; roadside thickets, weedy woodland edges

Preferred food   : Seeds. Visits feeders in winter, where it will accept cracked corn, thistle, millet,
                   sunflower and peanut hearts, suet and peanut butter

Breeding Range   : Along edge of Arctic tundra, from Labrador to Alaska

Winter Range     : Canadian maritime provinces west through northern U.S. to southeastern British Columbia,
                   south to Nevada and northern New Mexico, east to Virginia

Interesting Facts:- Flight: zig-zag pattern
                  - Voice:  says 'whee-hee-ho-hee'; call is 'tsee' or 'tsee-ler'
                  - Northern species - winter visitor only
                  - Numbers seem to depend on weather rather than food supply; less numerous in mild winters
                  - Nests are well-insulated cups made of bark, weeds, plant stems, & rootlets, lined with 
                    feathers, fur, or animal hair, and concealed in low tundra vegetation  
                  - Eggs: light blue with brown spots
                  - Clutch size: 4 - 5
                  - Incubation: 11 - 14 days
                  - Nestling period: 12 - 14 days
                  - Broods per season: 1