Who's That? - Little Brown Birds (LBB's)

LBBs always bring out the “Who’s That?” question among backyard birders.

“Little Brown Birds” tend to be sparrows, the plain-colored members of the Emberizidae family that includes buntings, juncos, longspurs, and towhees. Family characteristics include bills adapted for seed-eating and short wings.

“Sparrow” comes initially from the Indo-European word “sper,” meaning “flutter,” and then to the Anglo-Saxon “spearwa,” meaning any “small fluttering bird.” Most sparrows are relatively small, about six inches or less in size. Because many sparrows nest in low brush and forage on and near the ground, and because young develop rapidly and often leave the nest before they’re able to fly, they’re especially vulnerable to predation by cats.

There are at least 16 species of sparrows that make Washington home at some time in their lives. Half-a- dozen are common year-round residents or winter migrants of either western or eastern Washington, or both. None of them come in large flocks to winter feeding stations but are more likely seen individually.

Unfortunately the most common “sparrow” at winter feeders isn’t a true sparrow at all, but an introduced bird from the family Passeridae. That’s the House or English sparrow, a chunky, large, aggressive bird seen in large numbers, especially in urban areas.

The Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) may be our most common true sparrow, but possibly unidentified by many. A year-round resident of both sides of the Cascades, this is the quintessential “Little Brown Bird,” with its brown streaked breast and sides, sometimes-seen dark breast spot, brown head, and at least 25 obscure subspecies plumage variations across the country. But that’s where the plainness ends. Its musical repertoire is incredible with most songs starting with the first four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Sympony. Song sparrows come to winter feeding stations for millet, cracked corn, and sometimes suet.

Two species that are often seen at winter feeders on both sides of the state are the White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) and the Golden-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla).

The White-crowned sparrow is easily distinguished, at least in adult form, by black and white striping on the head. It has an unstreaked grayish breast and a wheezy whistle, husky trill or loud “pink” call. Several sub-species have been identified, including a mountain and Puget Sound variety, with very subtle plumage differences. White-crowns breed and nest as far north as the Arctic tundra. They migrate through Washington or even spend the winter here, often seen at backyard feeding stations in suburbia.

The Golden-crowned sparrow is similar, but instead of the white head stripes it has a dull golden-yellow cap heavily bordered with black. Sometimes it is confused with an immature white-crown, which is browner with buff striping. Golden-crowns breed in Alaska and Canada and usually spend winters in Washington and further south. It is less common east of the Cascades in the winter, more often seen there in the fall or spring migration.

The White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is much more rare and is usually just a winter visitor in eastern Washington. It has black and white head stripes similar to the white-crown, but it has a distinctive white throat patch and a less conspicuous yellow spot between the bill and eye. Although chances of hearing its song are slight in winter, this sparrow has a beautiful series of whistles and clear notes of different pitch.

The Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is often seen at westside winter feeders and breeds throughout the state. It has a rusty-reddish hue from head to tail and a heavily streaked breast, although there are many subspecies with variations. Nearly seven inches in length, this is one of the larger sparrows and is sometimes confused with the Hermit thrush; with its sometimes-seen dark breast spot, it is also confused with the song sparrow. It usually forages on the ground by scratching in leaves and flinging them in its wake – a habit that sends seeds flying from feeding platforms.

The American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea) is identified by a dark spot on an unstreaked breast and a solid red-brown cap. Sometimes called the “Winter Chippy,” it is similar in coloration to the Chipping sparrow but is a winter visitor to eastern Washington and a year-round resident of the coast, (rather than a summer resident only.) It tends to nest in thickets and trees more than other sparrows and will come to winter feeders for suet and peanut butter.

Previous section

Next section