Birds
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina · also called chipping sparrows
Beside a suburban hedge, a chipping sparrow works a stray strand of hair into her nest lining, continuing a material preference so consistent across the species that birdwatchers once nicknamed it the hairbird for exactly this habit.
Overview
The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is a rust-capped songbird native to forest edge, open woodland, and grassland habitat across a broad range of North America. Its strong preference for hair-lined nests and comfortable tolerance for suburban yards make it one of the more familiar and behaviourally distinctive small sparrows across the continent.
A very specific taste in nest material
Long after horsehair became less common around most yards, the chipping sparrow’s preference for animal hair lining has persisted, a habit specific enough to have earned the species its own dedicated nickname among generations of birdwatchers.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and abundant across suitable forest edge and open habitat throughout North America.
Chipping Sparrow: common questions
Why is the chipping sparrow sometimes called the hairbird?
A chipping sparrow lines its nest almost exclusively with animal hair, historically horsehair collected from farms and pastures, a strong material preference distinctive enough to give the species the old nickname hairbird among birdwatchers familiar with the habit.
How can you identify a chipping sparrow?
A breeding adult chipping sparrow displays a distinctive bright rust-coloured cap, a colour that fades to a duller streaked pattern outside the breeding season, and the species also produces a dry, rapid, one-pitched trill as its primary song.
Does the chipping sparrow do well around people?
Yes, a chipping sparrow tolerates suburban and urban environments well, frequently nesting in ornamental shrubs, hedges, and small trees in yards and parks, an adaptability that has helped keep the species common even in heavily developed areas.
Where does the chipping sparrow live?
The chipping sparrow is native to forest edge, open woodland, and grassland habitat across a broad range of North America, and its tolerance for suburban landscaping means it is also commonly found in yards and parks.