Thank you for this guide. I might not marvel at every sparrow but I always appreciate them, especially the white-throated with that dot of sun on their heads.
In the Iya Valley, in Japan, there were finches that had become accustomed to eating sunflower seeds from a human hand. I could send you a photo. They would perch, cock their head, look me in the eye, grab a seed, and fly.
A great celebration of these "beautiful but underrated" birds! Love that you included Saltmarsh Sparrow too. Their evolutionary history is fascinating.
This is a wonderful and educational photo essay, James. Really outstanding. I’m especially fond of the Nelson sparrow photo in the grasses, such a beautiful composition. I’ve been trying to learn all the different types of Sparrows in my area. We have the Goldens, but I’ve only been able to I.D. them using the Merlin app.
Thank you, Heidi! Congratulations on IDing a Golden-crowned—the rest of your local sparrows will become second nature in no time. I’d imagine some of these species will be in your area along with some specific to the west.
A beautiful presentation of often-overlooked birds. I learned the southern Ontario song sparrow dialect as 'Pres-pres-pres-presbyterian!' and it's what I hear to this day. The poem, which is lovely, was new to me: thank you for that!
Thank you so much, Scot! I must’ve missed the Substack notification that you mentioned my newsletter, my apologies.
It sounds like you have had quite the big year—and I love that you recommend the movie off the bat, and the way you remind us that every bird is sacred. Too easy to forget, a big year is a great reminder. The ducks and gulls, of course the Piping Plovers and the cormorants.
I am glad also that your big year was a big year in non-avian ways as well. Birding can be an organizing principle across all aspects of life.
Lovely. One recent summer I heard song sparrows sing in Maine, Michigan, and Seattle. Each was immediately recognizable as a song sparrow, even though each was singing with its local dialect. I can still hear them. 🎶
Thanks for the shout out my friend. Looking forward to learning more about your work when I have time.
I love sparrows, they are so cheerful and curious. They like to hang out in our garden in the winter as I leave Echinacea seed heads, Amaranth flower heads and pollinated cannabis flowers standing for them (and other winged visitors) to snack on. I find the sparrows in particular love to eat the cannabis seeds from our pollinated plants.
Thank you for sharing about the way sparrows factor into your life! And thank you for the links also—I want to spend some time familiarizing myself with your work and those seem a great place to start.
My pleasure! I can send you some seeds for my heirloom cold hardy cannabis strain if you wanna try growing it. I let males and females grow together so I have access to the nutrient dense seeds (which I like to snack on as well sometimes as I often harvest several kilograms of seed from a few big plants, while still leaving some for the finches, cardinals and sparrows).
I love how plants like Echinacea can live for decades and become such epicenters of life in the garden.
I look forward to hearing what you think of the posts.
oh thank you James. I did not know there were so many different species of sparrow. We have a lot of the Chipping Sparrows here and I think they are so beautiful.
There are many species, I think 140ish, but it’s the ones you come to know that feel the most special—and it sounds like that’s what Chipping are for you.
Yes! That sui generis rusty mohawk. Unmistakable. You should absolutely paint one, Ann—nature provides us no shortage of subjects to artistically render.
James, Thank you for this fascinating read on sparrows. I see at least 3 or 4 varieties of sparrows around my neighborhood throughout the year. Those are the ones I am most familiar with.
I like those images of the Saltmarsh Sparrow, James. I've never seen one before and they almost look like a different species.
I like the Song Sparrows as well - one of those signature songs of Spring. I do like those images of the White-throated Sparrow. One of my all-time favourite calls.
Thank you, Neil. Saltmarsh Sparrows are special birds—but then again all sparrows are, including the familiar Song Sparrow, and the unique White-throated. White-throated Sparrows have made for some of my favorite photographs.
Thank you for this guide. I might not marvel at every sparrow but I always appreciate them, especially the white-throated with that dot of sun on their heads.
The White-throated Sparrows are little treasure troves of lovely field marks. Thank you, Thomas.
Appreciate sparrows more and more, especially the wintering ones. The fact that I haven’t seen a Fox Sparrow this year is a constant agony
Understandable! They’re one of the most rewarding birds to find and see. I hope you see one before year’s end!
In the Iya Valley, in Japan, there were finches that had become accustomed to eating sunflower seeds from a human hand. I could send you a photo. They would perch, cock their head, look me in the eye, grab a seed, and fly.
I’d love to see a photo! It is always special when the birds come to trust us.
How can I send one to you?
Maybe through substack’s messaging feature?
I didn't see a way to attach a photo, but you can see it here:
https://merylnatchez.substack.com/p/the-peace-of-wild-things
Great post! Very educational. The poem at the end is a nice touch, and an important reminder.
And thanks for the link to my recent article!
Thank you, @Kollibri terre Sonnenblume! I am glad you enjoyed it—and your article raises such important points I’d have been remiss not to link to it!
A great celebration of these "beautiful but underrated" birds! Love that you included Saltmarsh Sparrow too. Their evolutionary history is fascinating.
Thank you, Grace! I figured you would particularly enjoy the bit about Saltmarsh Sparrows.
This is a wonderful and educational photo essay, James. Really outstanding. I’m especially fond of the Nelson sparrow photo in the grasses, such a beautiful composition. I’ve been trying to learn all the different types of Sparrows in my area. We have the Goldens, but I’ve only been able to I.D. them using the Merlin app.
Thank you, Heidi! Congratulations on IDing a Golden-crowned—the rest of your local sparrows will become second nature in no time. I’d imagine some of these species will be in your area along with some specific to the west.
We definitely have a lot of sparrows and I love hearing their songs. House, Goldens, and White-crowns are the ones I see and hear the most.
A beautiful presentation of often-overlooked birds. I learned the southern Ontario song sparrow dialect as 'Pres-pres-pres-presbyterian!' and it's what I hear to this day. The poem, which is lovely, was new to me: thank you for that!
I’d never heard of “Pres-pres-pres-presbyterian!” If I ever find myself in southern Ontario, I’ll keep an ear out for it! Thank you, Marian.
The first photo of the Savanah Sparrow you shared literally took my breath away. Thank you!
I love that photo too! Thank you Scot.
You bet.
I gave you a shout out in my latest piece, thanks for the inspiration!
https://everywhereissacred.substack.com/p/the-big-year
Thank you so much, Scot! I must’ve missed the Substack notification that you mentioned my newsletter, my apologies.
It sounds like you have had quite the big year—and I love that you recommend the movie off the bat, and the way you remind us that every bird is sacred. Too easy to forget, a big year is a great reminder. The ducks and gulls, of course the Piping Plovers and the cormorants.
I am glad also that your big year was a big year in non-avian ways as well. Birding can be an organizing principle across all aspects of life.
I look forward to reading part two!
Lovely. One recent summer I heard song sparrows sing in Maine, Michigan, and Seattle. Each was immediately recognizable as a song sparrow, even though each was singing with its local dialect. I can still hear them. 🎶
That sounds very special. They are wonderfully recognizable though they do have their regional variability.
Thanks for the shout out my friend. Looking forward to learning more about your work when I have time.
I love sparrows, they are so cheerful and curious. They like to hang out in our garden in the winter as I leave Echinacea seed heads, Amaranth flower heads and pollinated cannabis flowers standing for them (and other winged visitors) to snack on. I find the sparrows in particular love to eat the cannabis seeds from our pollinated plants.
For more info on growing cannabis as part of a regenerative garden and using it in the kitchen: https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/raw-cannabis-in-the-kitchen-the-medicine
(for more info on Echinacea in the regenerative garden and the medicine cabinet: https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/day-twelve-echinacea )
(for more info on Amaranth in the regenerative garden and in the kitchen: https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/amazing-amaranth )
Thank you for sharing about the way sparrows factor into your life! And thank you for the links also—I want to spend some time familiarizing myself with your work and those seem a great place to start.
My pleasure! I can send you some seeds for my heirloom cold hardy cannabis strain if you wanna try growing it. I let males and females grow together so I have access to the nutrient dense seeds (which I like to snack on as well sometimes as I often harvest several kilograms of seed from a few big plants, while still leaving some for the finches, cardinals and sparrows).
I love how plants like Echinacea can live for decades and become such epicenters of life in the garden.
I look forward to hearing what you think of the posts.
oh thank you James. I did not know there were so many different species of sparrow. We have a lot of the Chipping Sparrows here and I think they are so beautiful.
There are many species, I think 140ish, but it’s the ones you come to know that feel the most special—and it sounds like that’s what Chipping are for you.
Oh for sure James. That’s the first bird i’ve ever wanted to paint… something about the top of his wee head 🤎
Yes! That sui generis rusty mohawk. Unmistakable. You should absolutely paint one, Ann—nature provides us no shortage of subjects to artistically render.
🤎🤎🤎
James, Thank you for this fascinating read on sparrows. I see at least 3 or 4 varieties of sparrows around my neighborhood throughout the year. Those are the ones I am most familiar with.
Thank you Pamela. The willingness of sparrows to become familiar fixtures in our lives is one of the reasons they are so wonderful.
I agree. They are everywhere and they make a home where they are.
I like those images of the Saltmarsh Sparrow, James. I've never seen one before and they almost look like a different species.
I like the Song Sparrows as well - one of those signature songs of Spring. I do like those images of the White-throated Sparrow. One of my all-time favourite calls.
Thank you, Neil. Saltmarsh Sparrows are special birds—but then again all sparrows are, including the familiar Song Sparrow, and the unique White-throated. White-throated Sparrows have made for some of my favorite photographs.
That Seaside Sparrow phot is a cracker ... well, they all are, but that one stands out.
They truly do!
The small sparrow has much to share in their song. I truly hope that the sparrows along the coast are not gone in 50 years.
I always thought I was seeing juncos out here… but maybe they are sparrows(?)
What a lovely ode to sparrows!
Thank you, Kelly!