Bird of the Week: American Tree Sparrow
By Roger Burrows • Mar 23rd, 2010 • Category: Goose Lane Authors
While most sparrows head south for the winter, the boreal upland nesting AMERICAN TREE SPARROW moves downslope and heads to overgrown gardens, fields and wasteground throughout New Brunswick in search of weed and grass seeds. Traveling in small flocks, it is a regular and always welcome visitor to winter feeders from late October to late March, after which it is replaced at feeders by newly-arriving northbound sparrow species. The AMERICAN TREE SPARROW is instantly recognized by its chestnut crown, bi-colored bill and dark central spot on its pale breast.
Roger Burrows is an avid birder who has travelled throughout North America, spending many years in Atlantic Canada where he worked for Parks Canada as a naturalist, interpretive planner, and consultant. He is also the author of several birding “bibles,” including A Birdwatcher’s Guide to Atlantic Canada and Birds of Atlantic Canada. His newest book, Birding in New Brunswick is a Spring release from Goose Lane Editions.
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