Bird of the Week - XXXlV - Monday, June 6th, 2011

This week's "Bird of the Week" is the Song sparrow. This small song bird is common here in Reading, perching out on a branch singing it's song. The Song Sparrow sings a loud, clanking song of 2–6 phrases that typically starts with abrupt, well-spaced notes and finishes with a buzz or trill. In between, the singer may add other trills with different tempo and quality. The song usually lasts 2-4 seconds.

Song Sparrows are medium-sized and fairly bulky sparrows. For a sparrow, the bill is short and stout and the head fairly rounded. The tail is long and rounded, and the wings are broad. Song Sparrows are streaky and brown with thick streaks on a white chest and flanks. The streaks come together to form a large, central spot. On a closer look, the head is an attractive mix of warm red-brown and slaty gray, though these shades, as well as the amount of streaking, vary extensively across North America. The Song Sparrow is one of the most familiar North American sparrows. They eat mainly seeds and fruits, supplemented by many kinds of invertebrates ( insects) in summer.