Chipping Sparrow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesChipping Sparrow
Breeding adult
Bright rusty crown, black eyeline, and unstreaked grayish belly are distinctive. Gray rump visible in flight.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 04, 2015Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding birds are paler than breeding birds, but note brownish crown, dark eyeline, and unstreaked neck and belly.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 15, 2007Immature
Immature birds have a brown crown with thin dark streaks and buffy gray underparts with thin streaks. Note dark eyeline.
© Shailesh Pinto / Macaulay LibraryOhio, November 11, 2020Juvenile
Juveniles have streaked underparts and a streaked brown crown.
© Ian Burgess / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 01, 2016Breeding adult
Sharply marked sparrow with a rusty cap, black eyeline, and unstreaked gray underparts.
© Malcolm Gold / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, May 22, 2014Juvenile
Immature birds have a brown crown with thin dark streaks and buffy gray underparts with thin streaks. The rump is finely streaked cinnamon, which gradually changes to gray.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 15, 2011Nonbreeding adult/immature
Nonbreeding birds have the same general pattern as breeding birds, but more subdued colors, especially on the head. Note also the pink bill (versus black in breeding birds).
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibraryOntario, October 21, 2020Breeding adult
Found in open woodlands and forests with grassy clearings across North America.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 10, 2017Similar SpeciesAmerican Tree Sparrow
Adult
American Tree Sparrows have a rufous stripe through the eye; on Chipping Sparrows it's black. Tree sparrows also have a spot in the middle of the breast and a bicolored bill that Chipping Sparrows don't have.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryYukon Territory, June 06, 2014Similar SpeciesField Sparrow
Adult
Field Sparrows have a bright-pink bill, a duller crown, and a distinct eyering; whereas Chipping Sparrows have a dull bill, a bright rusty crown, and a black eyeline instead of an eyering.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 22, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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