If you’re like most people, when you see the initials LBJ, you think of the nation’s 36th president, Lyndon Baines Johnson.
But if you’re a birder, LBJ stands for something else entirely: Little Brown Job.
Lest you think I’m making that up, here’s the Wikipedia entry:
Little brown job
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Little brown job or LBJ is an informal name commonly used by birders for any of the large number of species of small brown passerine birds, many of which are notoriously difficult to distinguish. This is especially true for females, which lack much of the coloring present in males
Lord knows, there are a great many LBJs in the birding world, but I’m going to make sparrows the main thrust of this Dawn Chorus. I also thought it would be fun to sprinkle in some sparrow photos, each one numbered, to let you try to ID them. (I’ll provide answers at the end.)
So, sparrows. Such ordinary little birds that all look alike and nobody especially cares about them, right? Au contraire, my friend. Sparrows are fascinating little feathery bundles of energy with both bold and subtle distinctions in appearance. Some are easily identified while others are more challenging, but they are adorable little birds when it comes right down to it.
Sparrows are some of the most familiar and most common birds in the world. There are dozens of different sparrow species throughout the world – more than 50 of which are found in North America. I’m going to now draw from bird expert Melissa Mayntz writing in The Spruce concerning sparrow geography, physical characteristics, and behavior.
Sparrow Geography
Sparrows can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and they are generally divided into two principal families.
- Old World Sparrows: These sparrows are actually types of weaver finches in the family Passeridae, and they are widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common sparrows – the House Sparrow – is an Old World sparrow and has been introduced widely around the world, so much so that it is considered an invasive species in many areas. Other sparrows in the Passeridae family include the Chestnut Sparrow, Somali Sparrow, and Rock Sparrow.
- New World Sparrows: These sparrows are common in North and South America and belong to the family Emberizidae. There are dozens of sparrow species in this family, all with subtle differences in appearance, habitat, and range. Some of the most familiar species include the Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Field Sparrow, and American Tree Sparrow.
In both of these bird families, sparrows have evolved a wide range of species to fill different ecological niches. Sparrows can be found in nearly every habitat, from deserts and arid grasslands to marshes, forests and even urban areas. Because of this diversity, understanding sparrows is essential for serious birders.
Physical Characteristics of Sparrows
Like all types of birds, sparrows have certain physical characteristics that help define them as a group. They are all passerine birds – songbirds – and share traits such as:
- Size: The majority of sparrow species are relatively small, with sizes ranging from 4-8 inches in length, though 5-7 inches is the most common range. The size proportions, such as head size relative to body size or the tail length compared to over measurements, also vary.
- Plumage: These birds are called LBJs for a reason, and most sparrows have brown mottled plumage that serves as superior camouflage. They often have several distinct markings on the head, however, including stripes or bold colors that stand out from their bland bodies. Bold black, yellow and chestnut markings are common on many sparrows.
- Bill: A sparrow's bill is relatively short and thick with a conical shape. This is perfect for cracking the seeds that are these birds' primary food source. The bill color often varies, however, with some sparrows having dull gray or blackish bills while others have pale yellow or pinkish bills.
Sparrow Behavior
Because sparrows all share relatively bland plumage and physical characteristics, it is their behavior that is often more distinctive than their appearances. Behavioral traits common to sparrows include:
- Flocking: Like most songbirds, sparrows are solitary or found only in pairs or family groups during the spring and summer breeding season. In autumn and winter, however, they will form mixed flocks of different sparrow species, and may even be mixed with some other small birds such as wrens or chickadees. Birders can take advantage of this behavior by scanning complete flocks in the field to see if there are any unusual species joining more familiar birds.
- Foraging: While foraging, sparrows feed primarily on the ground or low in trees or shrubby cover. They will often glean through leaf litter for seeds and insects, and many sparrow species will hop to scratch with both feet while feeding. This scratching also creates noise that can help birders better locate sparrows in dense thickets or shrubbery.
- Diet: Sparrows are principally granivorous seed eaters, though they also consume a fair amount of insects. This is especially true during the spring and summer when the protein from insects is essential for growing hatchlings. In the backyard, sparrows are fairly undiscriminating and will eat black oil sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, milo, bread scraps and a range of other foods.
- Flight Pattern: Sparrows are fast, agile fliers that use a series of rapid wing beats followed by a brief glide with folded wings to create an undulating flight pattern. As flocking birds, they may be easily startled and may fly between a food source and shelter frequently while feeding.
Above all, sparrows are adaptable birds. With a wide range of species found all over the world, these birds are a staple on every birder's life list and understanding what makes sparrows unique can help all birders better appreciate these LBJs.
More from Melissa Mayntz on sparrow identification below. I admit it’s a real challenge sometimes, especially when you factor in juvenile birds that have not grown into their adult plumage. I’ve been stumped more than once.
How to Identify Sparrows by Markings
The easiest way to identify these small, active birds is by their field markings. Though markings are not always clearly visible, most sparrows have at least one strong field mark unique from other sparrow species. By finding and identifying that mark, birders can make a positive identification of the bird even without closer observation. Even if the bird has no outstanding markings, comparing two or three types of field markings will usually lead to a confident identification.
When observing sparrows, ask yourself the following questions to find their distinguishing field marks:
- Head: Is the head smooth and flat, or does the bird puff its feathers in a small crest? Are there stripes or markings on the crown, lores, eyebrow, cheek, chin or throat? Does the bird have a noticeable eye ring or eye stripe?
- Tail: Is the tail long or short in comparison to the bird’s body length? Are the outer tail feathers brown or white? Is the end of the tail smooth or notched? Is the tail held straight or cocked, or is it bobbed or wagged?
- Underparts: When comparing the bird’s chest, flanks, and abdomen, are they plain, spotted or streaked? Is there a color wash over the bird’s body? Are the markings uniform or do they create a specific pattern such as a bib, vest or central spot?
- Wings: Do the wings show any barring, spotting or other patterns? If there are wing bars, are they broad, narrow or broken? How many are there?
- Bill: Is the bill large or small in relation to the bird’s head? What color is the bill? Are the upper and lower mandibles the same color? Is the bill sharply pointed or slightly curved or bulbous?
With careful observation, birders can answer these field mark questions about any type of sparrow. When several questions can be answered, the bird’s identity will be revealed.
Other Ways to Identify Sparrows
While field markings are the best way to identify sparrows, it is not always possible to get a good look at a bird for a positive identification. Instead, other ways to identify the birds may be necessary.
- Range and Habitat: Even when migrating, birds prefer familiar habitats. When you find a sparrow that seems unclear, compare it to species typically found in the same habitat in that range to make proper identification easier.
- Song: Some sparrows have remarkably distinct songs that can make identification simple if you’ re familiar with them. Listen to the pitch, speed, and tone of the bird’s song and compare it to recordings or song descriptions to help with identification.
- Behavior: Like any animals, sparrows have unique personalities. Some are very shy, while others are bold and curious. Some prefer to move in flocks, and others are solitary. When you see one bird, take a moment to scan for others and watch how each bird behaves. Compare those observations to field guide descriptions or your own experiences to identify the bird.
Tips for Sparrow Identification
One of the best things to do to identify sparrows properly is to be familiar with your local birds before heading into the field. Study the pages on sparrows in your favorite field guide and note which birds you are likely to see and what you should look for in order to identify them correctly. The more familiar you are with what to look for, the easier it will be to notice the necessary characteristics of the birds you encounter.
So how are you doing with identifying all the sparrow photos sprinkled throughout this Dawn Chorus? I live in Northern California, so the sparrow photos I’ve posted here are ones I’ve taken around my own area. Many other sparrows are common in other areas. If you have photos of different sparrows found in your area, please feel free to post them in the thread. If you don’t have photos but just want to mention the sparrows you commonly see, please share that, too.
Here’s a handy little chart that might help you with sparrow ID. Five of the sparrows on this chart are represented in the photos. Below the chart are the answers to the sparrow ID photos, starting with the title photo that accompanies the headline of this Dawn Chorus.
If you haven’t yet ID’ed them all, now is a good time to try before reading further where the answers are revealed. Note: For one species, there are two photos of it. For another species, there is one male and one female among the photos. Feel free to use the chart for help, though two of the sparrows needing your ID do not appear on the chart. Good luck!
The Big Reveal!
Sparrow #1 in the title photo is . . . a Song Sparrow.
Sparrow #2 is . . . a Lincoln’s Sparrow.
Sparrow #3 is . . . a White-crowned Sparrow.
Sparrow #4 is . . . a Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Sparrow #5 is . . . a male House Sparrow.
Sparrow #6 is . . . a White-throated Sparrow.
Sparrow #7 is . . . a Song Sparrow.
Sparrow #8 is . . . a Savannah Sparrow
Sparrow #9 is . . . a female House Sparrow.
I’m going to add some more sparrow photos because I’ve got them and seldom do I have an opportunity to share them. Below we have male and female House Sparrows taking dust baths. I know a lot of people are not fans of House Sparrows because they are invasive, but I happen to think the markings of the male are beautiful.
So, how well did you do on the sparrow photo ID? I hope the chart helped you with some of the IDs. Happy Sunday, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, and tell us what’s going on in your birding world whether you have sparrow contributions or not. Cheers!