Chipping Sparrow - BirdForum Opus

Spizella passerina

Photo by Glen Tepke
Photo of breeding plumaged bird taken Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Watertown, Massachusetts, USA, 2 May 2004.

Photo by Robert S
Photo of juvenile plumaged bird taken at Torrington, Connecticut, USA, 29th May 2006.

Identification

In breeding plumage quite unique with a solid chestnut cap and black stripe through the eye, white the rest of the sides of the head and undersides are unmarked gray.

Distribution

Chipping sparrow is distributed from Alaska to eastern Canada through the USA and Mexico to Nicaragua.

Taxonomy

Five subspecies are recognized: passerina, arizonae, atremaeus, pinetorum, and mexicana; some authorities additionally recognize boreophilae.

External Links

Search for photos of Chipping Sparrow in the gallery