365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Tie-Tack Sparrow
Day 68: I call 'em "tie-tack sparrows." Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is easy to identify because his brown stripes converge in the center of his breast to make a dark spot, i.e., his "tie-tack." These little fellows are common here year-'round, but tend to be especially abundant during the winter months. His song is a lovely cascade of trills, but more commonly heard at this time of year, the call is a short, single syllable. It varies in pitch when the bird is alarmed, rising in tone and becoming harsher. Song Sparrows can be seen across the US, but novice birders should be aware that there is quite a bit of colour variation regionally. Look for the tie-tack to confirm the identity.
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