American tree sparrow Spizella arborea

Identification Tips:

• Length: 5.25 inches
• Dark, conical bill with yellow lower mandible
• Rusty crown and eyeline
• Gray supercilium and face
• Gray breast with black spot
• Rust patch at side of breast
• White belly and undertail coverts
• Buffy flanks
• Tan back with dark streaks
• Brown wings with wing bars
• Slim, forked tail
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile plumage (Summer) similar to immature but duller with streaked breast

Similar species:

American Tree Sparrows are similar to other sparrows with rusty crowns but have a black spot on the breast. Chipping Sparrow has a white supercilium and black eye line. Field Sparrow has a pink bill and white eye ring. Swamp Sparrow has rusty wings and a dingy breast.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.