Bird Description

Fairly common. Breeds in scrub. A tough sparrow with many wintering in snowy landscapes in weedy fields, hedges, and roadsides and at feeders. Found on or close to the ground in small flocks. In areas of deep snow, concentrations occur wherever they can find grass heads and other food. Often jumps off ground to grab seeds from overhanging grasses. In some locations it is the only regular sparrow. Call: a teedle eet. ID: Large-bodied with a long tail and rounded head. It has a cute friendly expression. Gray-headed with bold chestnut cap and eyeline. Boldly patterned upperparts with 2 wing bars. Underparts strongly buff in breast sides with a rufous patch near elbow, but it is the dark spot in the center of the breast that is distinctive. Bicolored bill. FISP can cause confusion where range overlaps, but latter shows less contrasting plumage, has all-pink bill, and lacks breast spot. CHSP is duller brown above with different head pattern and grayer breast lacking breast spot.