American Tree Sparrow Passing Through

An American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) was spotted at the Visitor Center feeders!

A winter resident, American tree sparrows can be found in open woodland habitats in and around Hawk Mountain and across Pennsylvania. They spend the colder months feeding on almost exclusively seed, with some berries and insects intermixed, and are known to frequent feeders. Look for a small, round sparrow with a rusty red cap and eyeline. A dark spot on the otherwise solid pale gray breast and a bicolor bill help differentiate from other sparrows. In a few short weeks, these sparrows will be heading north to their breeding grounds in the tundra of northern Canada and Alaska, along with other winter songbird residents.

Photo by Dave Menke.