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. | |
| Habitat | Found around man made structures like cities, towns, & farms, but not natural habitats. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Grass, weeds, twigs, trash, often lined with feathers. |
| Diet | Mostly seeds particularly weed & grass seeds or waste grain. Occasionally, eats some insects, |
| Behavior | Forages while hopping on ground. Also, likes bird feeders for a wide variety of seeds. |
| Size | Length: 5.9-6.7 in | Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz | Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in |
