Sparrow habitat

Meadow at Kenridge Farm - Hudson Highlands Nature Museum - Cornwall, NY

If you are not in the middle of a dense, dark, heavily wooded forest, your chances of finding a Song sparrow are reasonably good. According to “All About Birds” from Cornell University, “Song sparrows are found in an enormous variety of habitats including tidal marshes, arctic grasslands, desert scrub, pine pine forests, aspen parklands, prairie shelter belts” and on and on! So while not unique, the meadowlands in the nature preserve seen in the image above are more than suitable for these ubiquitous songbirds.

Song Sparrow

The summer time diet of the Song Sparrow is generally insects, worms and other invertebrates. In the winter, however, these birds rely heavily on seeds and berries.

In different seasons, these birds will be found in different regions of the US. But over the course of the year, they will be found in every state in the country. When trying to identify these songsters, listen for them singing “Put on your tea kettle-kettle-kettle” and look for the “stick-pin” over their chest. I always think of them as singing from their heart!

Tech Tip - Keep the shot interesting by trying to capture motion. This will mean being patient and waiting for the bird to strike an interesting pose or perhaps take flight. A faster shutter speed of 1/1000 or higher will lead to crisper shots. Many newer mirrorless cameras have a “Pre-capture” feature which will increase your chances of getting good motion shots.

David Baker

For over 30 years, my life was devoted to teaching High School , College, and Professional Development courses in the fields of Earth and Environmental Sciences. I hold 4 degrees including a Doctorate from Columbia University in Curriculum Development. Since my retirement, I have led field trips and workshops centered on two of my passions, nature and photography. This blog allows me to meld the two and facilitates my third passion which is educating folks about the natural world.

https://www.natdigital2025.com
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Black Dirt Farms - Orange County NY