Although a relatively small state, Indiana is home to an impressive 422 recorded species of birds. One of the families that you’re most likely to encounter, especially at your backyard bird feeders, are sparrows. There are 15 resident sparrow species in Indiana, and at least 5 more can be seen passing through the state on … Read more
If you’ve ever been amused by the long and complicated names sometimes given to birds, a funny question may have crossed your mind: ‘What’s the longest bird name in the world?’ Using some top-secret technology, I’ve exhausted comprehensive lists of bird species from around the world, and have compiled a list of the tongue-twisting champions! … Read more
Connecticut is the third smallest state in America, and the fourth most densely populated. Despite this, there are still many areas of unspoiled nature, including protected areas such as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and the Quinebaug, and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. The low-lying coastal areas and Connecticut river valley offer fairly mild … Read more
As a big, maritime state with a diverse selection of habitats, California is a mecca for birdlife. Over 660 different bird species have been recorded here, and more than twenty of them are sparrows. So whether you’re walking the coastline or up in the mountains, immersed in the redwood forests, or out in the desert, … Read more
With its abundant forests, mountains, lakes, hot springs, and gorgeous waterfalls, it’s little wonder that Arkansas got nicknamed ‘the natural state’. It’s a great place for nature tourism, and if you’re out and about in Arkansas, you’re almost certain to see some beautiful sparrows, no matter what time of the year. While some sparrow species … Read more
With its combination of cactus-filled desserts, winding canyons, and sparse grasslands, Arizona is classic sparrow country. The state boasts more than 20 species of sparrow, and, because of its southerly position, some of them are hardly found anywhere else in North America. Sparrows are great fun to watch feeding from your backyard, and the many … Read more
From the high plains that make up the east of the state, to the mountain peaks that dominate the west, Colorado offers a diverse landscape to accommodate a wide range of bird species. Many of the sparrows that live here migrate from one side of the state to the other during the spring and fall … Read more
If you’ve been to Alaska during the warmer months, you’ll know that it’s humming with insects in the first half of summer, and dripping with berries in the second. This makes it an ideal migratory ground for a wide variety of breeding sparrows who can cash in on the bountiful food supplies during the warmer … Read more
Little brown jobs. That’s how many people refer to sparrows. But by teasing out the details of the plumage, behavior, and distinctive sparrow songs of these birds, we can have greater success at correctly identifying them. Alabama boasts 20 resident species of sparrow, yet more than half of them are only here during the colder … Read more
Whether you’re out bird watching, driving your car, or even looking out of the window into a city garden, it’s not uncommon to see a raptor swooping in at high speed in front of you, and a flurry of startled birds, panicked by the intruder. So which bird did you see? Sometimes it can be … Read more