American Tree Sparrow

[pauraque]

This cute little redhead is an American Tree Sparrow. They're winter-only birds for us in New England, migrating south into the US after breeding in northern Canada. Their arrival after our summer songbirds have moved on is a welcome marker of the changing seasons here. I usually see them foraging in small groups, and there were two more with this one out of frame.



Despite the name, they are most often seen on the ground. They got their English name from settlers who thought they looked like the also-redheaded but unrelated Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Comments

[cmcmck]

We have the little Eurasian tree (aka hedge sparrows) sparrows and house sparrows all year round here.

They have a certaib similarity! :o)

[pauraque]

Eurasian Tree Sparrows can actually be found in the US too, but only in a small region around St. Louis where they were deliberately introduced in the 19th century. They haven't spread far and wide like the House Sparrow, which is an abundant invasive here.

[iddewes]

So pretty! I used to live in Canada but don’t remember seeing them, perhaps they didn’t come so far west.

[pauraque]

They breed in the less populated northern reaches of the country, so there's a good chance you'd only have seen them during migration!

[iddewes]

Yes, I didn’t live that far north! 😉

[blackcatofmisery]

I've never heard of this bird before; it's super cute! I learned a new bird today and a bit about it.👍

=^..^=~

[pauraque]

Always a good day when that happens!

[turlough]

What an adorably perky little chap! Our tree sparrows are much darker in colour but yes, the resemblance is definitely there.

[pauraque]

Yes, yours are more auburn. :)

[yourlibrarian]

How cute! I've never seen them around here, we must not be on their route.

[pauraque]

I used to live outside their range, so it's been nice to get to know them!

[adafrog]

Cute.

[pauraque]

Yup!

[ribirdnerd]

Very cute

[pauraque]

For sure!

[kaishin108]

How sweet!

[pauraque]

:)