Chipping Sparrow -- South Dakota Birds

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

A very tame sparrow, well adapted to human presence.  The name comes from the sparrow's song.

Habitat: Open woods, residential areas, farms.  

Diet: Summer diet is mostly insects and spiders.  Fall and winter diets include large amounts of seeds and waste grain. 

Nesting: Mid-May through Mid-August.

Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey Map

Song: Chipping Sparrow Song

Migrations: Neotropical migrant, wintering in the southern U.S. through Mexico and Central America.

Feeders: Seeds and breadcrumbs

Similar Species: Clay-Colored Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow

Status: Common throughout most of its range.

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Chipping Sparrow

2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Chipping Sparrow"

3) E-nature.com: Chipping Sparrow

Photo Information: April 28th, 2003 -- Newton Hills State Park -- Terry Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Chipping Sparrow photos.

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl

This page was last edited on 02/03/08