01.11.26: Shades of brown

‍The Song Sparrow is one of the most common and most familiar North American sparrows. If you see a brown streaky bird fly by there’s a good chance it’s a Song Sparrow.

‍In general, a Song Sparrow’s feathers are a rich brown and gray with a streaky brown and white chest, but this can vary among the more than 50 forms of Song Sparrows described by scientists. I’ve photographed a number of Song Sparrows with heads that are more brown and white or brown and buff — like this one seen in an autumn field in Sharon Woods Metro Park north of Columbus, Ohio — than brown and gray as described in the various field guides.

‍Song Sparrows are year-round residents in Ohio and can often be seen visiting feeders on snow-covered winter days.

‍Some of my favorite bird photos are my shots of Song Sparrows singing atop tall plants or shrubs in fields. The birds throw their heads back and belt out their song. But this one was just resting among similar-colored plants in the field.

‍I don’t know if this bird understands that its feathers blend with its surroundings in the field or if it’s just a coincidence, but when I saw this scene through the camera’s viewfinder, I knew I had an eye-catching photo. The brown-striped Song Sparrow stands out against the warm monotone jumble of brown and tan leaves and stems that surround it.