Bird Guide

Black-chinned Sparrow vs Field Sparrow

Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis)

Black-chinned Sparrow

Spizella atrogularis

Tiny11 gShrubland

The black-chinned sparrow is a small passerine, measuring 5 to 5+3⁄4 in. (13–15 cm) in length, with a wingspan of roughly 7+3⁄4 in. (19–20 cm). It weighs 0.3–0.5 oz (9.0–14.8 g), with a median weight of 0.4 oz (11.3 g). Overall, it is a slender, round-headed bird, with a high crown and a long, notched tail, which is proportionately longer than that of other Spizella sparrows. The sexes are similar, though the male averages slightly larger. The adult's head and body are gray, and its back is reddish-brown with black streaks. Voice: Its call is a high, soft tsip or stip. In flight it gives a soft ssip, a call said to resemble that of the chipping sparrow. The song is a series of clear, high-pitched whistles that accelerate into a rapid trill, which typically rises in pitch. Though similar to the song of the field sparrow, it is higher-pitched and more "mechanical".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Black-chinned Sparrow
Recorded by Diana Doyle · Song · Three Points Trailhead, San Gabriel Mtns, Los Angeles County, California, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER · CC0
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Field Sparrow

Spizella pusilla

Tiny13 gGrassland

Adults have brown upperparts, a buffy breast, a white belly, two whitish wing bars and a dark-brown forked tail. They have a grey face, a rusty crown, a white eye ring and a pink bill. They have rusty markings behind the eye. There are grey and rufous colour variants of the species. Males and females have a similar appearance with males being slightly larger than the females.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Field Sparrow
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Afton State Park, Washington County, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Matt Pelikan · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-chinned Sparrow and Field Sparrow.