![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSf9sfqwvMjePsLWoY5w-Plf_u5NuPzeBaGLaXzJNFbaC1-aOn7bUDSsGp-YToefhwX-DtIb2s1NzvEgXEbTKJ6fUqv2opHiYhzvvGGQQvFYaYu8ZhWORs6A7gyVguRXGFCpBI8ryTSEKN/s400/Field-SparrowBHSFP4-3.jpg) |
A Field Sparrow, a common resident of the prairies in Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL, 4/3/2012. |
With Song Sparrows and House Sparrows staying year-round in our area , Rockford, IL, and the early arrivals of Chipping Sparrows, April brings in a new arsenal of Sparrows, some that are travelling through, and some that will spend the summer months here. Among the latter, Field Sparrows (Above & Below) arrived in early April this year with their unmistakable accelerating series of clean whistles.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YNF9oPinPCoVhMFUsCVQWx_hmNqaGhk-v60PPAdsYOJSgcGYPET4YPcgb91g9diED6ijVQP6O-x5wfhck7oereASDqHe40zfZmUpESgln6OY-nGUjyUtWL3MB0oIQrA7k8-JtWU_hHj1/s400/FieldSparrowBHSFP4-21.jpg) |
Another Field Sparrow, Black Hawk Springs FP; 4/21/2012. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AhC7Zzhybcdj1u-0EX865KgB98jWW6sOtHwkz8AdlzPeFXt7SMeyN4b2zSyu5YkUDaAs746qmISNsM2MN-zlj3Lzd_61uNrb3-8dK8Rotzsx-0jjLeJqVRx_ussuIAKPJ-31ENUq14w_/s400/WhitethroatedSparrowEsp4-16.jpg) |
White-throated Sparrow, Espenscheid Forest Preserve; 4/21/2012. |
For the third straight year, I have had a flock of about a half dozen to a dozen White-throated Sparrows (Above) visit our back yard feeders. They usually arrive in the 3rd week of April, but this year were a week early. I love listening to their "Sam Peabody, peabody, peabody" song. They usually hang around for two weeks before they head North.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95d7RduZdc2GryowT48Qq0lB0gV3vM6WZ-ppPU7R5zqp93GYGfNI0_2f3YJaSdhbaF82KtUrl5sSLiQ2eV1q_lzd8FCR7KQztAgghhyvMtDTCXMtZELelHKbZjnxayWPs5NQtbr3Ic1CB/s400/SwampSparrow,Nygren4-4.jpg) |
Swamp Sparrow, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 4/5/2012. |
Swamp Sparrows (Above & Below) were the next to arrive to Northern Illinois.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Hz91Nb9YhUd9_KcMIBErPYxWHxlj2knq4nuxzSBdKO-5CjmpRKbt_gzaZMNqRksRNo6V9lgZd2RyN_V2ICNnWlLxpa2n1HprCZOBi0qhmypKV6HgSVt-v0sX2jTr4N7aVF9V7G-0a7zZ/s400/LincolnSprwBHSFP4-5.jpg) |
Swamp Sparrow? Black Hawk Springs FP, Cherry Valley, IL; 4/21/2012. |
I sometimes get wishhy-washy with my identification of these two Sparrows. The Swamp has less defined streaks on its breast and has a bit of yellow at the base of its bill. So the (Top of the 2 Above) photo fits the Swamp pretty well. In the photo (Above Bottom) this Sparrow has lacks the yellow base on its bill, but otherwise looks just like the Swamp. At first I called it a Lincoln's, but am not entirely convinced. Now I am leaning towards a Swamp. The photo (Below) is definitely a Lincoln as evidenced by its buffy breast and flanks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNRhyphenhyphen2lkGAUFT9WYI3xBujiYo9Gy0QmWPFDgVRIGR5wD7rojWg32VvTFMM3g-aNswuTwIUzHnBpLCBRkXjQJ8xQBsUefXtGnUF0Fl4k-J1v2FDoX4d-eF6pFC7ecQLjzVG4MmS5A_TO33/s400/LincolnSparrowNygrenWetland.jpg) |
Lincoln Sparrow, Nygren Wetlands; 5/12/2012. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM_RIyGBJJ7am7g7XAyfgQnK4Vo4DZLVJy4j-7JJ6_OROeynEU-fQOkBgLy8FmqiZ9R0QpNkJyATOwMXVpC5SAA8VTz_AilAaYvW2f-zG7hA9JYv6Bq1abvtKtnexZlUPIU-hyjZRZTPf/s400/VesperSprw,8-2011.jpg) |
Vesper Sparrow, Blue-Fish Bay, MN 8-12-11 |
The next species of Sparrows to arrive to Northern Illinois were the Vesper Sparrows (Above) and the Savannah Sparrows (Below)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVpz5XaWYG31nR9vo6RrX7cXRi48UQ_ueq1wbALc_aybo9Lz_1oKZtoeVJS82TVAnx5MUegw0yBQJUgfbPQGk4JkqoT-N6FRcnJBaehP3dy1z_bdj9zZWrfr2FL0TL3PtLTLNIFEYwDGf/s400/SavannahSparrowDeerRun5-22.jpg) |
Savannah Sparrow, Deer Run Forest Preserve, Cherry Valley, IL; 4/22/2012. |
So April is a good month to find Sparrows coming to Northern Illinois. A few Species that I missed this year are Fox Sparrows (I did see one in January) and Clay-coloreds. May will bring even a few more Species: Lark, Harris, and White-crowned Sparrows. Then thre are the few species that live here that I have yet to see: Henslows and Grasshoppers, and those that migrate through that I have never seen: Le Contes and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Maybe next year.
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