When it comes to appreciation from humans this species already has two strikes against it when it steps up to the plate. It’s a sparrow and it’s “common”.
As far as too many folks are concerned all sparrows are nondescript little brown birds that might even be the same species so they’re worthy of very little attention or even respect. English author and satirist Alan Coren had his own take on that shortsighted view when he said “All I know of birds to this date is that sparrows are the ones that are not pigeons”.
We’re funny about sparrows. Any bird actually called a sparrow is often largely ignored but birds with other names of the same size and approximate coloration, towhees, buntings and even juncos for example, command significantly more interest and respect. Well guess what – towhees, buntings and juncos are sparrows too! All members of family Emberizidae are types of sparrows.
And one of the most distinctive and handsome sparrows I regularly photograph is the White-crowned Sparrow, including both adults and juveniles which look quite different from each other. They’re not only widely distributed over almost the entirety of North America but they’re also abundant over much of their range and all that boils down to “common”. To some that word has negative connotations but in my opinion it shouldn’t. In this context it simply means there’s a lot of them over a wide area and I think that’s a positive rather than a negative.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this adult White-crowned Sparrow almost exactly a year ago on Antelope Island and it’s perched on blooming rabbitbrush which is among my favorite natural perches. These particular flowers are a little past their prime so they aren’t as colorful as the flowers in the background producing those delightful yellows back there. This is the time of year that rabbitbrush yellows are truly glorious, especially when they’re clumped in masses. I just wish birds would perch on them more often when the colors are still bright.
And isn’t this sparrow a handsome specimen, especially with that black and white crown setting him off? In my view there’s absolutely nothing pedestrian about this species, including the immature birds that lack the dramatic black and white head colors. You just have to get close enough, physically or optically, to truly appreciate them.
Sparrows are sometimes referred to as the “Rodney Dangerfields of the bird world” because they get no respect and that’s too bad because folks really don’t know what they’re missing.
Ron
Wonderful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
I can’t recall now where I read about it but I remember learning that there were 19th century folks who believed there were “good” and “bad” birds (as well as other animals). They made and published lists. As a result people felt justified in extirpating some species while sparing others. I suspect this belief persisted well into the 20th century since–as late as the mid-1950’s–I remember hearing from my own father that there were certain birds I was absolutely not to shoot at with my BB gun–because they were “good”–while others were okay to target because they were “bad”. Sparrows were one of the species it was okay to try to shoot. I don’t remember him providing any rationale for these judgements. That’s just how it was apparently. While it saddens me now to think my friends and I did actually target sparrows based on this senseless, antiquated “system” (and it saddens me more that we actually killed a few as a result) this persistent attitude seems to have some basis in what turned out to be yet another misguided historical value system regarding other living things. The long held human animus toward wolves comes to mind whenever I think of the idea that there are “good” and “bad” species of living things. Though at times I could argue there really is one “bad” mammal given the damage that dominant biped has inflicted on all the others. These photos go a long way toward making it up to sparrows everywhere!
I grew up under a “system” similar to the one you describe, James. I shot sparrows with my BB gun on the MT farm too. Most of them were House Sparrows but I’m sure some of them weren’t. I was never told they were “bad” but I was allowed to do it and I did. Regularly. Thankfully I grew out of that stage quickly and I never transferred that attitude to other birds and animals. I didn’t even like to hunt like most of my friends did. I did hunt pheasants a few times while in high school but haven’t since and I never went deer hunting even though it was all the rage, especially in Montana.
The one exception for me was “gophers” – Richardson’s Ground Squirrels. Gophers were a scourge for farmers because they could wipe out acres of early crop in a very short time so I was encouraged to shoot them and I did for years. I couldn’t do that now but then I’m not a farmer depending on crops for my livelihood…
I am a big fan of LBJs. All of them. And when I take the time to look (and the flitty little beasts stay still long enough) I am amazed at their subtle beauty.
Agreed, EC.
Ron, I think that this sparrow is a very handsome bird with beautiful coloring. I am sure they show up in our back yard eating the droppings from the feeder but they are so small I can’t tell much about their coloring.
Thanks Ron
“they are so small I can’t tell much about their coloring”
A lot of folks have that issue with sparrows, Alice.
Sorry I haven’t been as attentive to your blog as I’d like. I guess we all have our challenges with life and health. You ‘light up my life’ every day and I thank you for that.
A simple house sparrow changed the direction of both my and my daughter, Haley’s, lives.
Stunning photo!
Thanks, April.
A lovely photo of a lovely little bird. My first White-crowned of the season showed up in the backyard just 2 days ago, and I’m very happy to know he’ll soon be joined by numerous pals from now until next April or so. They are the happiest, busiest little birds and I really enjoy watching them snatching up seeds and other snacks in the yard and listening to their song. I’m less enamored of the much plainer House Sparrow simply because they tend to overwhelm my feeders, but I don’t begrudge any bird its livelihood. Am still hoping I might one day find a Golden-crowned among them! 🤔
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a Golden-crowned, Chris. I’d love to though. Thanks.
I love sparrows. Here in Wisconsin, they are some of the only birds that stick it out with us through the winter, and I give them a LOT of credit for that! It’s great to hear their cheeping on a cold, grey, icy day. They hold assemblies in dense bushes and it sounds like a thousand of them are in there, warming each other up with their closeness, telling each other their chirpy stories. My winter clients love to hear the cheery mob in the bush outside the window during bodywork sessions.
Sounds like you know sparrows well, Doreen.
The timing of this post was perfect. I was just watching all my white crowns at my feeder thinking boring they’re always here❗️
As of today I’ll have a new appreciation for them😁
Have a great day
That “attitude adjustment” is great news as far as I’m concerned, Diana!
Just think how boring it would be if none of them ever showed up at your feeder… 🙂
Thank you for this post. I love all birds with exception of starlings. I have never seen this bird in person and am always amazed at the number of different birds listed as common in our area and the fact the only place I see them is in your blog. I will continue to try and see them in the wild. Beautiful little bird.
Good “hunting”, Betty. Thanks.
Love the white crowns Ron. Lovely portrait with nice golden background. “My” white crowns diwn here in San Diego by the border (imperial Beach) should be returning on my birthday next Thursday-seriously!
A great looking sparrow is the black throated sparrow of the desert. Cheers to the sparrows.
I hope you get your sparrow birthday wish, Leslie. Thanks.
I’m one who enjoys seeing Sparrows, especially when I can identify them. And I’m always happy when I see White Crowned Sparrows – they do stand out from the crowd. The only Sparrow I do not like is the House Sparrow, and that is mostly because of the number of times when I’ve seen a bird that looks unfamiliar and photographed it, only to discover that it is a House Sparrow. I’m not sure why they get me that way, because they are one of the most frequent visitors to our yard.
Susan, I often wonder what our populations of various songbirds would be like if House Sparrows and European Starlings had never established a foothold in North America. I suspect they would be very different.
One of the things I love about white-crowned sparrows is their brilliant song, sung loudly from willows along mountain hiking trails. Because of that song, they were one of the first birds I learned after moving to Colorado in the 1960s. Sparrows similarity, with identification depending on relatively subtle variation in the lines on their faces and backs, may be part of the reason they are less popular among casual wildlife watchers. It’s a whole lot easier to tell an elk from a moose, or a gray jay from a Stellar’s jay than it is to tell a Clay-colored sparrow from a Brewer’s sparrow.
“It’s a whole lot easier to tell an elk from a moose, or a gray jay from a Stellar’s jay than it is to tell a Clay-colored sparrow from a Brewer’s sparrow”
Excellent point, Nancy! I also enjoy their song.
Beautiful “LBJ”. They are “around” at times and, like many, don’t pay a lot of attention to as is true of anything that’s “common” or not of special interest for whatever reason 😉 Glad you look for and capture these birds for a closer look! 🙂
Thank you, Judy.
I can understand what you say about sparrows, but please don’t include me feeling that as a group it is difficult. Fall Warblers gave me a hell of a lot more trouble than sparrows, at least in our area here in New England.
I have a few images of this handsome species as well as first year birds. We only see them at this spot in VT sometimes in the Fall, but mostly during Spring migration. We truly know migration is well on its way when White-crowns show up. Absolutely love this sparrow!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Dick. I have trouble with both groups!
I’ve learned it is key to look for key characters. Each species, both adults and immatures have key points that tell you who you are looking at. Fall Warbler immatures are hellish to try and memorize all those key points, probably in my case its my age, but with sparrows those key points tend to stay in my head. Yet I agree, friends have said the same as you that sparrows are tough.
Every day birding is both a challenge and exciting!
I agree with Everett…I also live in Az. and the White-Crowned Sparrows are starting to show up about now. I find them quite beautiful and sometimes when the light is right their crowns are so striking it is amazing. Great shot Ron !
Thank you, Steve. We’re getting a lot of them now too, especially the young birds.
You and I are on the same wavelength this morning, Ron (which should give you some pause because I’m such a weirdo! 😜). As soon as I read the title, my first thought was, “Sparrows– the Rodney Dangerfield of the bird world.” My second thought was, “Wow, is this guy a looker!” That black and white crown against the yellows is visually stunning.
You’re probably the one that should be a little nervous about us sharing the same wavelength! Thank you, Marty.
Nah, your wavelength has chocolate donuts in it. 😋
Beautiful photo of this bird! That head…❤️ I agree about the lack of respect given sparrows…they are far from ordinary. (If someone wants ordinary…look at the Pine Siskin…probably the most ordinary finch there is but still there are features to admire.) Sparrows can be a challenge to sometimes ID but that makes it fun. I read somewhere we have 16 different sparrows here in Wisconsin. My first Harris’s Sparrow had me smiling for a week! 😍 I keep my list and keep checking them off…maybe someday I’ll have them all.
I think I photographed a Harris’s Sparrow only once, Kathy. A fun bird to see.
Well said Ron, they are noble little beasts and they’ve been short changed for too long by too many of us. We are funny about sparrows…..and many other things. Maybe we can get on a better track starting with an across the board sparrow appreciation correction. Really like this beautiful image of this fine representative. Thanks again for another day started well!
They’re “noble” indeed, Dave. We often don’t appreciate them and sometimes I wonder what this world would be like without them. A pretty sad one I think…
Love White-crowned Sparrows and we have them here in large numbers starting right about now. You are right about Sparrows. How many bird or wildlife photographers will just ignore them when out looking for something to shoot. I took a photo of a group of them a year or so back with about twenty all grouped together on a shrub. Thanks for bringing some attention to this beautiful bird.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Nice to know that you appreciate them, Everett. And I agree, it doesn’t make much sense when some bird photographers largely ignore sparrows.