Our Native Sparrows

By Terri Gorney

When most of us think of sparrows, we think of the English or house sparrow which is commonly found at our bird feeders in urban and rural areas. At Limberlost, we are fortunate to have a number of native sparrows who make their home at least part of the year at Limberlost. Those include the American tree, chipping, song, savannah, field, white-throated, white-crowned, and fox sparrows.

The song sparrow is one of the most common sparrows and can be found at the Limberlost throughout the year. They were first described by Alexander Wilson in 1810. Gene Stratton-Porter wrote that she enjoyed the song sparrow all year. She believed that this beautiful bird was the “master singer of our winter woods.” They like to nest in brushy habitats, usually around water. A perfect place to see them is at Rainbow Bottom along the Wabash River. Ken Brunswick made sure a brush pile was left there as habitat for the birds. These sparrows have nested here and also use it for cover as when a raptor is in the area.

When most of the earth sleeps in winter, the meadow at the Loblolly Marsh still provides nutriants for the song sparrows and American tree sparrows or they may be found flocking to yard bird feeders when the snow covers much of the ground. Last January, at a home on Rainbow Lake, there were twenty or so American tree sparrows along with a couple song sparrows who regularly came to a ground feeder. Both species are seed eating birds and enjoy the seeds of the thistle, goldenrod and coneflower. Last winter both species were here in good numbers. 

The small and slender chipping sparrow is a bird of summer in this area. They can commonly be heard “chipping” early in the morning. Many will nest and raise their young in northeastern Indiana. In the fall they will migrate south and return in the spring. The chipping sparrows close looking counter part, the American Tree sparrow, is a little larger has a dark spot on the breast and will spend the winter at Limberlost but will nest and raise their young further north. 

Field sparrows have seen their numbers decline in past years but their unmistakable vocalization of clear whistled notes and a trill could be heard at several places at the Loblolly Marsh and Limberlost Wetlands this past summer. This is one bird that is easier to hear than to see. Habitat restoration is helping this species make a come back in the area.

One species of sparrow that are not as common and tend to be a little shyer is the savannah sparrow. Jane Brooks Hine, a bird woman from DeKalb County, wrote in 1911 that “this little sparrow is one of her most intimate friends.” Jane wrote that he would be outside her kitchen window and that like the song sparrow, used the brush heap for shelter all year long. 

Fox sparrows are few in numbers but one or two can be seen in the winter months at the Loblolly Marsh. Jane Hine wrote that they were in greater numbers in the late nineteenth century. 

White-throated and white-crowned sparrows are in the area in the early spring, fall and winter months. Both species nest further north, mostly in Canada. The Loblolly Marsh around Woody’s Retreat is a good place to watch for these birds. The white-throated sparrow is a species that likes the woods or is found at the edge of wooded areas. The white-crowned sparrow is commonly seen in shrubs or at the edge of a woods. 

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website is a good place to research these birds further or listen to their calls http://www.allaboutbirds.org