In Search of Snowbirds | Male Sparrow

In Search of Snowbirds | Male Sparrow

Northern Illinois | 2/12/2019 11:26 am Local Time | Light Drizzle 33°F Light Winds

In Search of Snowbirds | Male Sparrow    Sometimes, we forget about common species.  Sparrows are very common in Northern Illinois year around, so many photographers pass them over waiting for a less common creature.  They can still make a nice photo. Sparrows tend to live close to people so they are always close at hand to capture an image.  This male Sparrow seems rather stoic.  Maybe it’s too rainy to be playful.

The Back Story    Small birds are a challenge to capture.  The Nikon 1 V3 with the 70-300mm lens allows for a 810mm effective focal length.  It’s a long, not so fast lens at f5.6, but a very sharp lens.  Still, it takes some practice to get a tack sharp image shooting handheld.  For more insight, see Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story.

Quick Facts…

Male Sparrow grey cap, brown back, chestnut wings , white wingbars. undersides grey, black bib.
HabitatFound around man made structures like cities, towns, & farms, but not natural habitats.
RangeYear around in Northern Illinois
NestGrass, weeds, twigs, trash, often lined with feathers.
DietMostly seeds particularly weed & grass seeds or waste grain.  Occasionally, eats some insects,
BehaviorForages while hopping on ground.  Also, likes bird feeders for a wide variety of seeds.
SizeLength: 5.9-6.7 in  |  Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz |  Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in

In Search of Snowbirds | Female Sparrow

In Search of Snowbirds | Female Sparrow

Northern Illinois | 1/24/2019 11:43 am Local Time | Light Snow 1°5F Moderate Winds

In Search of Snowbirds | Female Sparrow     Sometimes, we forget about common species.  Sparrows are very common in Northern Illinois year around, so many photographers pass them over waiting for a less common creature.  They can still make a nice photo. Sparrows tend to live close to people so they are always close at hand to capture an image.  I think this bird is a female House Sparrow, but I’m not a birder.  Please give me a comment if you think I’m wrong.

The Back Story    Small birds can be challenging to capture even with a long, fast lens.  The Nikon 1 V3 with the 70-300mm lens allows for a 810mm effective focal length.  It’s a long, not so fast lens at f5.6, but a very sharp lens.  Still, it takes some practice to get a tack sharp image shooting handheld.  For more insight, see Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story.

Quick Facts…

Female Sparrow … plain buffy-brown overall with dingy gray-brown underparts. 
HabitatFound around man made structures like cities, towns, & farms, but not natural habitats.
RangeYear around in Northern Illinois
NestGrass, weeds, twigs, trash, often lined with feathers.
DietMostly seeds particularly weed & grass seeds or waste grain.  Occasionally, eats some insects,
BehaviorForages while hopping on ground.  Also, likes bird feeders for a wide variety of seeds.
SizeLength: 5.9-6.7 in  |  Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz |  Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

My walkabouts have been turning up more birds than usual.  Tonight, it was the Song Sparrow.  A rich, russet-and-gray bird with bold streaks down its white chest, the Song Sparrow is one of the most common sparrows in northern Illinois.  Don’t let the large variety of color differences in this bird confuse you; it’s the first species to suspect, if you see a streaky sparrow in an open, shrubby, or wet area.  When it perches on a low shrub, leans back, and sings a song, your day just got better.  Although, it’s very common, it’s still a worthy subject particularly in nice sunset light.