As I turned down towards the boat ramp to North Landing River, I flushed a “spray” of small birds from under some holly trees. At first I thought they were juncos, but I didn’t see any flashing white tail feathers. It was mid-November and I was exploring Munden Point Park in Virginia Beach. On my way out the birds were back, but this time I stopped to check them out with binoculars. To my surprise, they turned out to be a flock of chipping sparrows, apparently feeding on grass and weed seeds, and possibly fallen holly berries. 

     Measuring 5 to 5-3/4 inches in length, the chipping sparrow is one of our smallest sparrows. It is slim and rather long-tailed and is best identified by its chestnut-colored crown, broad white line over its eye, and a black stripe running through the eye. It has a brown back streaked with black and grayish under parts. Chipping sparrows are birds of grassy openings in woodlands, the edges of day lighted roads, pine plantations, parks, orchards, farms, and open residential areas. Actually, they inhabit a wide range of habitat types or biomes, including deserts, prairies, mountains, forest clearings, and lakeshores.

     While most chipping sparrows probably migrate to warmer climates, many hardier members of the species inhabit coastal areas as far north as Delaware, often in the company of field sparrows, yellow-rumped warblers, and other small birds. Chipping sparrows begin moving north in March, and by mid-April you’ll start hearing their somewhat plain, rapid, trill, or “tsipping’, or “chipping” notes. The males sing from elevated perches as the females begin nest building, egg laying, and brooding.

     “Chippys” nest in small trees and shrubs, especially small coniferous trees, as well as dense vines and small trees. The nest is a neat cup-shaped affair constructed of grasses and lined with finer grasses and animal hair. About four bluish-green eggs, speckled with dark brown are laid. Incubation takes about 12 days. 

     Both parents feed the young, but some reports tell of the males giving food to the female who passes it on to the young. The young are fledged in another 12-14 days. Juveniles lack the rufous crown and have streaked rumps and under parts. Two broods are raised and they will often stick together into the winter or in migration.

     Chipping sparrows eat insects and insect larvae in spring and summer, and then turn to weed and grass seeds, and some wild fruit in fall and winter. Some of their other names include “chippy,” hair-bird, and hair-sparrow because of its habit of using animal hair in their nest. Look for them in grassy fields or clearings that have groups of small coniferous trees, or even a single tree in the open. They like shorter grass areas and are commonly seen along roadsides or driveways, where they easily find weed seeds. 

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