Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Spizella ("finch") pusilla ("very small")

Juvenile Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) at Campton Hills, Illinois- August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Spizella arenacea arenacea
Weight: 12.5g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A near endemic species to the USA, with it's range just barely tipping over the borders into Mexico and Canada, the Field Sparrow is an unusually pale sparrow species wit a distinctive pink bill. The population is East of the Rockies right up to the Atlantic Coast, with more northerly populations being migratory.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Spizella
SUBSPECIES: S. p. pusilla, S. p. arenacea

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found in the Eastern half of the Lower 48.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at Gray Willows Farm, Campton Hills, Illinois

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Spizella ("finch") pallida ("pale")

Adult Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) at Buffalo River State Park, Minnesota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: n/a
Weight: 12g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A resident of scrubland and jack pine woods found in Central Northern US and Canada, I only encountered a few at the Buffalo River State Park in Minnesota where the scrubby edges of the prairie proved to be favoured by them.  They nest on the ground or in low scrub.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Spizella
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds primarily in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, some winter grounds extend into Texas
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at Buffalo River State Park, Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Spizella ("finch") passerina ("sparrow like")

Adult Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) at Buffalo State River Park, Minnesota  - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Spizella passerina passerina
Weight: 11-17g  /  Length: 12-15cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread species of sparrow that is largely a migrant breeding species in most of the US and Canada, they are an adaptable species that can be found in forest, farmland and gardens. In breeding plumage they gain a chestnut coloured cap, but this becomes less distinctive in nonbreeding plumage.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Spizella
SUBSPECIES: S. p. arizonae, S. p. passerina, S. p. atremaeus, S. p. mexicana, S. p. pinetorum

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeds throughout much of the country except the tundra.
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

UNITED STATES - Occurs throughout almost the entire lower 48, and some patches of Alaska.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Common bird in the lower 48 section of the trip. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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