Eastern Towhee:

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Larger of sparrows (smaller than robin), top half is black, black back, white underside, rufious flanks, white tail sides (like dark-eyed junco), white patch on primaries, red eye

Call: "towhee-hehehe" first part low, gets higher, "drink your teeeeee, towhee" 

American Tree Sparrow:

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Beak is two toned (upper man. black, bottom yellow), underside is all grey, central black spot on chest, grey face, rufious crown stripe, rufious eye stripe, two white wing bars, migratory: see for a few weeks in spring, 

Hop on ground but flush into trees

No Call

Chipping Sparrow:

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One of smallest & most common (urban and rural), more solitary, plain grey underside, bright rufious cap boardered by white stripe, black eye stripe (head is very contrasty), small dark beak, two white wing bars, /\-shaped tail

Call: similar to dark-eyed junco, very fast & high pitched, hang out on bushes and sing

Clay-colored Sparrow:

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More rare, solitary, ~chipping sparrow, plain grey underside, white mustacial stripe, white eyebrow stripe, tan cheeks, back of neck is grey,  one central white crown stripe, brown lateral crown stripes with black streaks

Hang out on bushes and sing 

Call: insect-like, buzzy 

Field Sparrow:

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Solitary, common in open areas, plain underside, pink beak, white ring around eye, ~chipping sparrow, no striping on head, rufious cap & grey eyebrow & rufious cheek but it's all washed out, brown & black streaks on back, pink legs,

Call: accelerating trill, sounds like bouncing a ping-pong ball on a table, hang out on bushes and sing

Vesper Sparrow:

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Rare, open areas, white eyering, light colored beak, back is brown & black streaks, no real wingbars, flanks & underside has faint streaks, dark cheek patch boardered in white (v-shape), may have chesnut colored patch on wing, white outter tail feather

Call: two to four long, clear notes, followed by musical slurs and trills.

Lark Sparrow:

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Rare in Madison, plain colored underneath with central black dot on chest, long tail, white outter tail feathers, walks (not hops) on the ground

Head: white central crown stripe, rufious lateral crown stripes, rufious cheek, black mustacial stripe boardered by white

No call

Savannah Sparrow:

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Brown & black streaks on back, white belly, streaked belly & flanks, notched tail (/\-shaped), pink legs

Head: white median crown stripe, brown lateral crown stripe, pale/yellow eyebrow stripe, white malar stripes boardered by black

Call: short chips, buzzing, and last note is always descending (lower in pitch)

Grasshopper Sparrow:

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Rare, stocky, short tail & neck, no forhead -- beak extends flat to head, pale median crown stripe, pale white eyering, dark orange/yellow spot between eye and beak base, plain buffy breast

Call: two staccato notes followed by a long, insect-like (grasshopper) buzz

Fox Sparrow:

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Larger (~towhee), reddish streaks on chest and back, white underside with red streaks that converge to central spot,  tail & rump are red - no streaking, migratory

Head: a rufous cap, and a gray face, grey stripe around back of neck, slightly two-toned beak

No call

Song Sparrow:

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Most common, streaked breast & flanks that converge, plain belly, flick tail in flight, often on cattails or reeds

Head: dark brown lateral crown stripe, grey eyebrow stripe, dark stripe through eye, white throat patch boardered by dark submalar stripe

Call: [be familiar with] "swing-swing-twee-trillll-buzzz"

Lincoln's Sparrow:

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Smaller (~chipping), underside streaked converging to central spot, streaks are sharp -- not blurry, white belly under buffy breast, like Song Sparrow but looks neater/cleaner

Head: black mustacial stripes, pale median crown stripe, rufious lateral crown stipe, dark eye stripe

No call

Swamp Sparrow:

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Big rufious patch on wings, plain grey underside, common around wetlands

Head: bright rufious crown, grey median crown stripe, white throat

Call: simple slow trill of 2+ pitches sung at the same time 

White-throated Sparrow:

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Head: white throat (very distinct), very thick white/grey median crown stripe boardered by thick black/brown lateral crown stripes, grey eyebrow stripes, black eye stripes, yellow spot inbetween beak & eye

Grey underside, only faint streaking (if any), common here

 Call: five or so slow whistles that changes pitch once, "Oh-Canada-sweet-Canada-Canada-Canada"

White-crowned Sparrow:

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Distinct Head: always black & white head stripes, grey head & body, no white throat, pink beak

Grey underside -- no barring, brown back, two white wing bars

No call

Dark-eyed Junco:

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Sparrow family (so jump on ground), winter only, light pink bill with dark grey body, white belly, spread tail feathers when flying - outter tail feathers white, inner ones dark

Call: rapid, high-pitched trill, star wars

Lapland Longspur:

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Winter species, only in open areas, will only see winter plumage here

Summer: bright yellow beak, reverse white "7"black head, back of neck is rufious, plain grey underside, brown/blackish back [know summer for disc exam] from eye to breast,

Rose-breasted Grosbeak:

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Here in April, huge beak, not on ground much

M: all black, two white spots on wing, v-shaped red on breast, white underside

F: plain brown (but massive beak), clean white eyebrow stripe

Call: like robin with singing lessons, lower and slightly slower -- opera singer robin

Dickcissel:

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Rare, wings are plain chesnut (no stripes), yellow underside,

Head: white throat, black v-shaped inbetween throat & breast, yellow eyebrow stripe, grey top of head, grey cheek, massive beak, ~towhee, not much forhead

Call: "dick-dick-cissel-cissel-cissel"

Purple Finch:

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Looks like house finch, rose coloration all over, bright rose rump, strongly notched tail, sparrow dipped in raspberry juice, dark eye stripe

Call: continuous warbling (goes on forever)

House Finch:

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Rose on head & breast (not belly or rump), brown rump, shades of brown, intensity of rose coloration depends on rank of male, coloration can be red/orange/yellow, brownish cap, grey eyestripe,  notched tail, more streaking all over

Call: a hoarse warble that goes up and down rapidly

House Sparrow:

[image]  [image]

M: grey cap, black around eye, dark red back of neck, white cheeks and at base of neck, black throat with black bib, dark reddish back

F: dark brown back, light brown front, dark eyestripe

Grey underside, no streaks, stocky with thick bill, nearly always stays near people and their buildings

Call: slightly metallic "cheep-chirrup, cheap-chirrup"

American Goldfinch:

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Winter plumage: pale yellow throat, buffy head and back, black at top of beak, white belly and rump, buffy flanks, black wings with large white wingbar

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Breeding plumage: bright yellow, black front of head, white undertail, black wings with large white wingbar

Call: "per-chic-o-ree" with twittering and warbling notes

Indigo Bunting:

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Bright blue, short thick bill

Call: musical series of warbling notes, each phrase given in twos, "see-see, zeet-zeet, chit-chit, seeit-seetz"

Nothern Cardinal:

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<Blue Jay, conical bill, crest is distinctive

M: all red with black mask, orange bill

F: less red

Call: cheer-cheer-what-what-what-what-what?

(also purdy, purdy, purdy)

Pine Siskin:

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Winter only, pale brown, dark brown streaks all over (looks like a wet dog), yellow bars on primary flight feathers & coverts, short finch-like beak

Call: fingernail going over comb, ascending

Snow Bunting:

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 Mostly white - white underside, white wing patches, white outter tail feathers, brown/black back, dark wings & wingtips, black legs