02 December 2011 Posted by Mike Freiberg | 1:20 PM -

Nikon's December Facebook Quiz


When Nikon Birding ProStaffer, Tom Dunkerton, sent me this shot and told me it would be a good quiz bird, I thought, "yeah right?" I immediately identified it as a House Sparrow and Tom indicated I was correct. However, after a little more thought I realized that this was the perfect quiz bird, because noboby and I mean, nobody looks at house sparrows unless your name is David Sibley. Everyone sees this bird, hears this bird and lives near this bird, but rarely studies this bird. The House Sparrow is native to Europe and Asia and has been introduced across much of the world including the entire mass of the lower 48 states. It's ability to adapt to rural and urban settings has allowed this species to prosper where others couldn't. The dark streaks on the mantle bordered with it's rufous coloration is what we expect in an adult male House Sparrow. This bird has a stocky body and block-shaped head and gives off a harsh "chep," as it's main call. We usually hear those calls in mass as these birds gather in large groups.


This adult is likely beginning it's prebasic molt indicated by the loss of the colored feathers in and around the face. Notice the large pale-colored bill? That is another indicator that fall is coming for this bird. The females are extremely drab with a bold, pale supercilium since they are responsible for all of the brood rearing. Introduced in the mid-1850s this species has expanded it's range much like we are seeing from the Eurasian Collarded-Dove. The dove was a bird that I once chased in Iowa in high school when there were relatively few breeding spots known. Now the species is a pest.

We hope this provided a bit of a brain stumble and shows the importance of knowing your common, local species including the introduced birds. Good birding everyone and thanks for participating.


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