American Tree Sparrow vs Song Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

Also known as: Winter Sparrow

How to recognise an American tree sparrow?

General appearance

The American tree sparrow is a small, slender bird with a distinct rusty cap and gray face. A notable brown streak extends through the eye, and the bird has a bicolored bill with a dark upper mandible and yellow lower mandible. Its back and wings are brown with dark streaks, while the underparts are pale gray with a central dark spot on the breast. The tail is long and notched with two white wing bars that stand out.

Male vs female

There is minimal sexual dimorphism in American tree sparrows, meaning males and females look alike. Both genders share the same coloration and markings, making them difficult to distinguish based solely on appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile American tree sparrows resemble adults but with slightly duller and less distinct markings. Young birds may have a more muted crown and face pattern. As they mature, their plumage becomes more defined, resembling the adults in coloration and characteristics.

Size

5.5 - 6.5 in/0.5 - 1.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The American tree sparrow primarily dwells around treelines where the northern forest transitions into tundra, typically within Arctic scrub and willow thickets or in clearings in stunted spruce forests.

Additional range

Unexpectedly, this bird species also inhabits open fields, woodland edges, marshes, and suburban areas during winter. They frequent brushy roadsides and areas with tall shrubs.

Range Map

What do American tree sparrows like to eat?

Natural diet

The American tree sparrow's diet varies seasonally. In winter, it primarily consumes seeds from grasses, weeds, and other plants, while occasionally eating a few insects and berries. During summer, its diet shifts to mostly insects and other small invertebrates, supplemented by a few seeds. The young sparrows are mostly fed insects, providing the necessary nutrition for growth.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the American tree sparrow often eats seeds, particularly favoring sunflower seeds, millet, and other small seeds commonly available in bird seed mixes. These food sources help supplement their natural diet, especially during the winter months when food is scarce.

What does an American tree sparrow sound like?

The American tree sparrow displays a melodious vocal range. Its typical song pattern starts with 1 or 2 clear notes which transition into a sweet, rapid warble. During winter, its feeding call turns into a silvery 'tsee-ler' sound. Two prominent call types are 'Chirp/Chip' and 'Whistle,' primarily characterized by a falling pattern in pitch.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

How to recognise a song sparrow?

General appearance

A song sparrow is the size of a robin, with a fairly long tail. Its distinctive markings include a striped face and streaks on its chest, often merging into a central blotch. The bird displays a range of colors, including black, brown, gray, red, and white. Its wings are broad and its tail can be notched, rounded, or square-tipped. It is often seen in open fields.

Male vs female

Both male and female song sparrows have similar appearances, making it difficult to tell them apart by sight alone. Both genders share the same size, coloration, and physical traits, such as their striped faces, long tails, and chest markings.

Juvenile

Juvenile song sparrows have similarly colored plumage to adults but typically appear more muted. Their chest streaks may not be as prominent and can take some time to fully develop. As they mature, they grow into their characteristic markings and colorations.

Size

4.7 - 6.7 in/0.4 - 1.9 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The song sparrow typically inhabits thickets, brush, marshes, roadsides, and gardens, particularly in areas with brushy fields, streamsides, shrubby marsh edges, woodland edges, hedgerows and well-vegetated gardens.

Additional range

Its environmental range varies, from coastal populations in salt marshes to sparse habitats such as dense streamside brush in southwestern deserts and any dense low cover on the Aleutian Islands, Alaska.

Range Map

What do song sparrows like to eat?

Natural diet

The song sparrow's diet consists primarily of insects and seeds. During summer, it consumes a wide variety of insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, and wasps, as well as spiders. In winter, its diet shifts to focus heavily on seeds, particularly those of grasses and weeds. In coastal marshes and island habitats, song sparrows may also feed on small crustaceans and mollusks and occasionally small fish.

Bird feeders

Song sparrows are known to visit bird feeders, where they often consume seeds. Common foods at feeders include millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds, which provide a convenient supplement to their natural diet, especially during colder months when insects are less abundant.

What does a song sparrow sound like?

The song sparrow vocalizes with an array of distinct patterns. Its song typically starts with 3 short notes, interpreted as "Madge-Madge-Madge," followed by a varied trill mimicking "put-on-your-tea-kettle-ettle-ettle.” The call patterns mirror a falling, rising, and undulating rhythm. The types of calls emitted include a buzz, chirp or chip, hi, trill, and a whistle, creating a complex communication repertoire unique to this bird species.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

There's more to learn about Song Sparrow

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American Tree Sparrow

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Song Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

Also known as: Winter Sparrow

General appearance

The American tree sparrow is a small, slender bird with a distinct rusty cap and gray face. A notable brown streak extends through the eye, and the bird has a bicolored bill with a dark upper mandible and yellow lower mandible. Its back and wings are brown with dark streaks, while the underparts are pale gray with a central dark spot on the breast. The tail is long and notched with two white wing bars that stand out.

Male vs female

There is minimal sexual dimorphism in American tree sparrows, meaning males and females look alike. Both genders share the same coloration and markings, making them difficult to distinguish based solely on appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile American tree sparrows resemble adults but with slightly duller and less distinct markings. Young birds may have a more muted crown and face pattern. As they mature, their plumage becomes more defined, resembling the adults in coloration and characteristics.

Size

5.5 - 6.5 in/0.5 - 1.0 oz

There's more to learn about American Tree Sparrow

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Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

General appearance

A song sparrow is the size of a robin, with a fairly long tail. Its distinctive markings include a striped face and streaks on its chest, often merging into a central blotch. The bird displays a range of colors, including black, brown, gray, red, and white. Its wings are broad and its tail can be notched, rounded, or square-tipped. It is often seen in open fields.

Male vs female

Both male and female song sparrows have similar appearances, making it difficult to tell them apart by sight alone. Both genders share the same size, coloration, and physical traits, such as their striped faces, long tails, and chest markings.

Juvenile

Juvenile song sparrows have similarly colored plumage to adults but typically appear more muted. Their chest streaks may not be as prominent and can take some time to fully develop. As they mature, they grow into their characteristic markings and colorations.

Size

4.7 - 6.7 in/0.4 - 1.9 oz

There's more to learn about Song Sparrow

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How to tell the American Tree Sparrow from the Song Sparrow

Visual differences

The American Tree Sparrow measures 5.5-6.5 inches long with a slender build, whereas the Song Sparrow is slightly larger at 4.7-6.7 inches. The American Tree Sparrow has a rusty cap, gray face, brown eye streak, and a bicolored bill. Its underparts are pale gray with a central breast spot. The Song Sparrow, on the other hand, exhibits a broader range of colors, with a striped face and streaks on its chest merging into a central blotch. Both birds have long tails, but the Song Sparrow's tail may be notched, rounded, or square-tipped.

Key differences and behavior

The American Tree Sparrow and Song Sparrow exhibit distinct behaviors and habitat preferences. The American Tree Sparrow nests on the ground in tundra or scrubby landscapes and shifts to open fields, marshes, and suburban areas during winter, relying on a seasonal diet that prioritizes seeds and insects. In contrast, Song Sparrows inhabit versatile areas like thickets, marshes, and gardens, engaging in ground foraging with a distinctive kicking dance. Their diet is varied, consisting of insects, seeds, and at times, small aquatic life in coastal regions. Both sparrows are similar in courtship, with males displaying unique flight patterns and songs. The American Tree Sparrow's survival hinges on consuming substantial amounts of food daily, a critical need that doesn't impact the Song Sparrow as prominently. While both utilize dense vegetation for nesting, the American Tree Sparrow favors ground nesting in the north, whereas Song Sparrows might nest slightly elevated.