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Tag: Sparrows

Suet Feeder Activity

Suet Feeder Activity

Our little community park occasionally attracts a Nuttall’s Woodpecker, offering a fun bird visitor to observe. Watching this woodpecker, with its black and white striped back, climb the trunk of a tree is delightful. In late 2024, a Nuttall’s briefly visited my backyard, exploring the spindly plum tree. Inspired by the visit, I bought a shepherd’s hook and a basic suet feeder hoping that it might attract a woodpecker to our backyard again.

It didn’t take long for the first bird to find this new food source. Within a day, a Yellow-rumped Warbler expertly clung to the cage, picking off morsels that it ate on site. Little bits of suet would fall to the ground, attracting the White-crowned Sparrows as the clean-up crew. The sparrows quickly learned that when the Yellow-rumped Warblers would feed, it meant an opportunity to take advantage of dropped suet bits. So the sparrows always appeared underneath the feeder when the warblers showed up.

Perhaps enticed by the suet, one White-crowned Sparrow decided to try to eat directly from the feeder rather than wait for scraps. The sparrow was not designed like warblers and it clung awkwardly to the sides, flapping its wings to keep its balance, while barely managing to nab some larger pieces. The other sparrows were content to remain on the ground.

By the end of the winter season, an Orange-crowned Warbler visited the feeder, exchanging places with the Yellow-rumped Warbler as they battled over feeder rights. But the surprising behavior came from the California Scrub-Jays. This new object piqued their curiosity. The jays spent significant time trying to figure out how to get some of the suet. They must have realized that they were simply too large to cling to the tiny feeder cage. They eventually figured out that they could hover below the feeder, craning their necks to grab the suet from the bottom. They frequently nabbed two beakfuls in one flight attempt, and would either eat it right away or fly off with the grub. I suspect that they might be caching the food for later.

The shepherd’s hook offered its own usefulness to the birds. It’s often used as a perch by the jays, mockingbirds, finches, and sparrows. Perhaps it gives them a good view of the backyard as they plan their next move.

Fast forward to this past winter: the California Scrub-Jays, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Yellow-rumped Warblers have continued their same eating patterns, but this time all the White-crowned Sparrows were hopping on the feeder rather than the single, brave bird from before. Sometimes there would be up to three sparrows clinging at once, fighting over the limited space. They still fed on the ground below the feeder, but getting at the suet directly seemed to be more popular this year.

A new bird also joined the crew – the Ruby-crowned Kinglets popped onto the feeder for a quick bite, navigating it just as expertly as the warblers. A few times, an Anna’s Hummingbird hovered by the feeder, leading me to wonder if it was looking for bugs attracted by the suet.

While this hasn’t attracted any woodpeckers yet, I’m delighted with the active winter scene this encourages!

Winter Recordings

Winter Recordings

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush Perched on Wire, 2018

Total Species Recorded: 21

My Big Recording Year is off to a good start! So far I have recorded 21 species towards my goal of 100. While that may seem like I’m on pace to reach 100 within weeks, it will steadily get more difficult to add to the list.

One thing I’m finding challenging is getting the birds to cooperate. In the winter, birds can be fairly quiet, and the ones who are vocalizing frequently startle into silence upon my presence. I joke that the birds have recording anxiety, for as soon as I hold up my microphone, the bird will suddenly go quiet. Perhaps it’s because I have suddenly stopped walking and pointed an object at them, prompting the bird to be more wary of my presence.

One of my favorite stories from this past week was my time spent in Oak Grove Park in Ripon. While it was a delightful walk amongst the grove of Oak Trees, I was collecting a growing list of failed recordings, mainly due to the target bird going quiet. The starlings were also singing in full force, drowning out everything I tried to capture. I want to record a starling in my neighborhood because their specific mimicry is interesting, so I did not want to expend energy on them this trip. I ended up deleting many of these recording attempts.

After an hour of walking, we stopped in an area filled with bushes. After adjusting to our presence, the bird chatter filled the air. Townsend’s, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped Warblers were chipping in the trees, a Northern House Wren scolded an encroaching wren, and Oak Titmouse were calling to each other while foraging.

One fun lesson was hearing the subtle but distinct differences between a Fox Sparrow and Hermit Thrush call. The Fox Sparrow has a smacky quality to it, like having peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth while trying to say “tsk.” The similar-sounding Hermit Thrush instead gives a “Chup” call that has a cleaner tone. It’s not often that I hear a Fox Sparrow, let alone a Fox Sparrow and a Hermit Thrush at the same time, so it was a treat to study their differences in the field.

To read more posts about this challenge, see the dedicated Bird Recording Challenge 2026 web page or click on “Bird Recording Challenge 2026” under “Tags” at the bottom of this post.

Neighborhood Treasures

Neighborhood Treasures

Lawrence's Goldfinches and Lesser Goldfinch

Two Lawrence’s Goldfinches and a Lesser Goldfinch eating among yellow and pink flowers

Sometimes birds pop up in spots where you least expect them. Where I live, the urban sprawl is viciously pushing the boundaries between development and fields. The rural landscape of active farmlands is being gobbled up by a dizzying number of houses and shopping centers. I’ve been mourning the clear reduction of Barn Swallows that previously nested in our neighborhood and the lack of Yellow-billed Magpies that we would see eating in the fields.

But there are signs of hope. New human-made ponds, likely intended for flood management, are popping up, attracting waterfowl and shorebirds. One such pond is in the middle of an enormous construction project next to a community park. Last winter, water filled this pond giving life to a marsh-like environment. White-crowned Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and Savannah Sparrows could all be found running around the exposed dirt. Marsh Wrens sang their funky tune from the cattails. American Pipits walked with their long gait along the fence. But what really delighted me was the Virginia Rail and Soras that called this little oasis their home during the winter. One Sora would give its whinnying call and set off the other two or three at various locations, which then gave rise to the rail’s grunts. All this could be found tucked in this little spot in the middle of a housing development.

Fast forward to spring and this spot held another surprise. Wildflowers sprouted suddenly, transforming the bare metal fence into a painting exploding with little pink and yellow flowers. A large mixed flock of Lesser Goldfinches and American Goldfinches were devouring this food source, as if assuming the flowers would be gone soon (in fact, the flowers were mowed down not too long afterwards). A closer inspection of the flock revealed multiple Lawrence’s Goldfinches – a pure treat for this area! Their uniquely-marked faces and pale gray plumage made them stand out from the other goldies. They stuck around for nearly a week, despite their well-known propensity for wandering for food and not staying put.

Killdeer Nest

Killdeer nest with four eggs camouflaged on the ground

A final fun surprise was finding a Killdeer nest just outside of the safety of the fence. We nearly stepped on the four eggs – their camouflage was so well done, and then spotted the parent nearby nervously watching. I took a quick picture on my phone and left the nest immediately. I’m not sure about the nest’s fate as I didn’t find the time to check on it again, but I hope it survived the challenges of breeding in the middle of a big housing area, giving life to future generations of birds.

Neighborhood Surprise

Neighborhood Surprise

I am a creature of habit. I’ll often return to the same, familiar spot repeatedly. In my new neighborhood, that means circling a little park almost daily. So far, this tiny area has yielded 53 birds since June. That’s a lot more than I would have expected for a manicured lawn with very few trees.

I left for my walk around the park to satisfy my habitual morning routine, yet this time, something was tugging at me to explore a bit more. Outside of the neighborhood is another housing development, but next to that is a marshy field encased in wire fencing. It’ll likely be slated for development at some point. But for now, something urged me to check it out.

I was first drawn in by the seets of sparrows, but they were difficult to locate. The grasses and weeds had grown long, offering cover for foraging sparrows. Once in a while, a sparrow would poke out just long enough for a brief look through the binoculars. White-crown Sparrows, a Song Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrows dominated, until we heard the buzzy seet of a Lincoln’s Sparrow – county lifer #99. Four Lincoln Sparrows eventually popped into view. I looked closely just to make sure there were no Vesper Sparrows sporting a white eye ring among them. I’m not sure if we get Vesper Sparrows here, but it’s good to look anyway!

This little marshy area also housed a couple of Marsh Wrens – a pleasant surprise given that the surrounding area is either housing development or endless fields of almond trees.

We accidentally startled a couple of birds that were rather shorebird-like. My first thought was that they were dowitchers, but this habitat didn’t match up. After searching a bit (and again accidentally flushing them due to their terrific camouflage), I was delighted to figure out that they were Wilson’s Snipes. Now that’s a treat! I hope we didn’t scare them too much and that they will stick around. I’ll have to be more careful when birding along the fence next time.

Chasing the Harris’s Sparrow

Chasing the Harris’s Sparrow

It was the first warm, sunny day in months. I reluctantly slathered on sunscreen, loathing the oily liquid on my skin but knowing that I would be fried to a crisp without it. Binoculars in place, camera ready, energy bar in pocket, we were ready to chase after the rare Harris’s Sparrow.

After getting tips from a birder returning to his car, we set out in the Diablo Foothills to scan all the flocks of Golden-crowned Sparrows, knowing that our target bird was associating with a group of them. I was delighted to see Lark Sparrows, which is not a common sight for me. Their boldly striped face is unique and I was distracted by them for quite a while.

Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrow, 2019

Another birder joined the search, as is often the case when an unusual visitor arrives, and we split up locations to improve our chances of finding the sparrow. I kept on going back to a picnic area that was calling to me. But after multiple visits to that area, I headed towards another spot that was conveniently located near the restrooms. Our new birder friend stayed at the picnic area. Wouldn’t you know, after we left the little guy showed up! I saw the big camera lens come out and that was my cue to race back to the picnic area. I got there just in time to see it fly off to a distant tree.

Harris's Sparrow

Harris’s Sparrow, 2019

I easily spotted the sparrow, who relaxed between leaves. What a beautiful little bird! It had a brilliant white chest with black smudges at the top along with black on its chin and part of its head. I was entranced by its beauty, so much so that I watched it long after our birder friend left. I only stopped watching because it eventually flew away and I lost track of him.

Happy, we went back to the car and shared its location with a birder hoping to catch a glimpse of our rarity. I hope he was able to find it.

Species Spotlight: Golden-crowned Sparrows

Species Spotlight: Golden-crowned Sparrows

Golden-crowned Sparrow, 2017

Golden-crowned Sparrow, 2017

Seet, seet, seet. I hear a high-pitched call coming from the bushes and my heart jumps for joy – our winter sparrows have arrived! I crouch down to take a peek at the activity on the ground while being careful to not disturb the birds and find one of my favorite winter sparrows: the Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Golden-crowned Sparrow, 2016

Golden-crowned Sparrow, 2016

This little, brown sparrow has a brilliant golden crown nestled between two thick dark lines on its crown. During the winter, the gold and black is turned down a notch in brightness for its non-breeding plumage, which is what we typically see in the Bay Area.

Golden-crowned Sparrow, 2017

Golden-crowned Sparrow on Broccoli, 2017

Watch for these sparrows in mixed flocks as they forage on the ground and trees for food. They are often found alongside White-crowned Sparrows which are remarkably similar but with white and black stripes down its head that looks like a skunk. I absolutely adore the songs of the Golden-crowned sparrows. To me it’s a melancholy yet sweet song that transports me to a cozy home in the winter.

Species Spotlight: Song Sparrows

Species Spotlight: Song Sparrows

Song Sparrow, 2016

Song Sparrow, 2016

A common sparrow in the Bay Area is the aptly-named song sparrow. This little, striped, brown bird has a variety of songs and calls ranging from a dancing musical tune to a slightly raspy “cheep” call that to me sounds a bit like a wren.

When I first began birding, it was challenging for me to identify this LBJ (little brown job) as it can stick its tail straight up like a wren! A key field marker is the blend of blurry stripes down its chest that frame a bigger splotch in the middle. Song sparrows also have a thick “eyeliner” behind its eye and a general brown stripy look with a white chest.

I often find song sparrows rummaging on the ground in bushes or climbing around cattails like a marsh wren. They are not too shy and can pose prettily for glamor shots. If you find one, spend a little time observing it and wait for it to sing a song.