Identification - This bird is a small sparrow. It is a delicately built bird and the only sparrow with a small chestnut-cap with a prominent black line through and white stripe above the eye. It also has a long tail. It habitually sings from a high perch. The underparts are unmarked and gray. The back is brown and streaked. The wings and tail are brown with narrow wing bars.
Morsels - The Chipping Sparrow builds a compact nest low to the ground, often in evergreens. The nest is constructed from stems, grasses, and rootlets and is lined with mammal hair or fur. In the 1800s horse hair was favored. These days Chipping Sparrows often have to make do with pet hair. Only the female incubates and is often a 'close sitter', meaning that she will stay on the eggs even while people and other intruders are close by.
