Chipping Sparrow

Yesterday morning, LittleBirder and I saw a small sparrow poking around the violets (which are just up this week, I think). We watched it and I asked him questions: "Is it bigger than your hand?" "Yes!" "What color is the top of its head?" Red!"

I noted: russet crown, black eyeline, dark beak, two shades of brown on its back, two pale wing bars. LittleBirder wasn't too interested in looking it up in the book (hardly surprising!). After some flipping back and forth in the pages, I figured it was a chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina). I don't know that I've ever seen one before.

I recorded it in eBird. Turns out I have 20 birds on my lifelist there; who knew?