ExploreBirds

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

The Chipping Sparrow is a small, cheerful bird with a lovely song. It has a rusty cap on its head and a grayish belly. You can often see it hopping around in gardens and parks, looking for seeds to eat.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Chipping Sparrow has a distinctive rusty-red cap and a prominent white stripe above its eye, contrasted by a dark line running through the eye. Its back is streaked brown, while its underparts are a plain, unmarked gray, making it look quite neat and slender.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyPasserellidaeGenusSpizella
Chipping Sparrow
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Chipping Sparrow

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Baby Chipping Sparrows eat mostly insects, like caterpillars, to grow big and strong quickly.

Chipping Sparrows build nests so small, they're often mistaken for just a clump of leaves.

Some Chipping Sparrows fly thousands of kilometers, migrating from Canada all the way to Mexico!

Their song sounds like a tiny sewing machine, a rapid trill of 'chip-chip-chip'!

Special abilities

Ability

Seed Seeker

Chipping Sparrows can find tiny seeds because of their sharp eyesight that helps them spot food on the ground.

Ability

Camouflage Master

Chipping Sparrows have streaked brown feathers that help them blend perfectly into dry grasses and twigs.

Ability

Quick Getaway

Chipping Sparrows can dart away quickly because of their lightweight bodies and strong wings that help them escape danger.

Measurements & details

Length
12-15 cm
Wingspan
20-24 cm
Weight
0.011-0.015 kg
Lifespan
2-9 years
Top Speed
40 km/h
Clutch Size
2-7
Incubation
10-13 days
Migration Distance
2500 km

Diet & Feeding

These little birds enjoy a meal of tiny seeds and crunchy insects found in gardens and fields.

Age differences: Young sparrows eat mostly protein-rich insects, switching to a more seed-heavy diet as adults.

Primary Foods

  • Grass Seeds
  • Weed Seeds
  • Caterpillars
  • Grasshoppers
  • Beetles

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

Lays eggs in sparrow nests, often to the detriment of sparrow chicks.

eaten by

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

Common predator in suburban habitats.

eats

Crabgrass

Digitaria sanguinalis

Relies heavily on seeds from common lawn weeds.

eats

Cabbage White Butterfly

Pieris rapae

Eats caterpillars during breeding season to feed young.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Chipping Sparrow?

12-15 cm

What is Chipping Sparrow's wingspan?

20-24 cm

How much does Chipping Sparrow weigh?

0.011-0.015 kg

How long does Chipping Sparrow live?

2-9 years

How fast can Chipping Sparrow move?

40 km/h

What does Chipping Sparrow eat?

These little birds enjoy a meal of tiny seeds and crunchy insects found in gardens and fields.

Where is Chipping Sparrow usually found?

Urban areas

How does Chipping Sparrow hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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