While a typical sparrow may be described as an overall little brown bird, there is actually a large variety of colors, patterns, and facial markings that make sparrow species’ appearances very unique. There’s been a huge push in sparrow abundance in Manitoba lately. Some of them, like the White-crowned and Harris’s are only passing through while they journey towards their breeding grounds further north to the subarctic. Many others have come to stay for the summer.

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The facial pattern is a great way to identify them, with various colored stripes, crowns, cheeks (auriculars), and throats. Smooth or streaked flanks and chests, and the shape of streaking as well (like how Fox Sparrows have little triangles on their chests), are other ways to differentiate them. They also differ in sizes, for example a Harris’s Sparrow is quite large compared to a Savannah or a Swamp Sparrow. Each species also has their own distinct song, including insect-like buzzes, trills, warbles, and beautiful melodies. Below are a few other sparrows that also occur in Manitoba (these specific photos were taken last fall).

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According to the American Birding Association’s bird checklist (2018), there are 44 species of New World sparrows on this continent! (Based on a wikipedia count, ~20 of these occur in Manitoba). Next time you see a little brown jobbie, take an extra moment to observe its patterns, and perhaps it’ll look more than a typical brown bird.

A very common little brown bird is the House Sparrow, one of the Old World Sparrows that is actually in a different taxonomic family. This bird has been introduced worldwide and is considered invasive outside their native range of Europe and Asia. Because of this, they’re not protected in America and that’s how I have a pet House Sparrow as part of my family (rescued as a chick to avoid euthanasia).

Having Opal at home, I’ve learned that even a species that is known to have a simple song & call (House Sparrow’s charp-charp-charp) can actually have an extensive repertoire. He makes quite a lot of songs, ranging from sweet melodies, boisterous chatters (particularly when I’m on the phone), cute cheeps, and sleepy snores. Many other birds will also have a wide range of their own sounds, more than what bird apps can display. I think observing so many different (and unexpected) voices and tones is fascinating, though sometimes very challenging to identify without a visual. Xeno-canto (https://www.xeno-canto.org/) is a great site to listen to numerous sounds from an individual species, and for birds all over the world!

Spring here continues to flourish and we’ll enjoy many of these sparrows’ company until they migrate back to their wintering grounds in fall.

-Evelien