Song Sparrow looking for nesting materials – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Towards the end of April I spent a few minutes photographing an adult Song Sparrow looking for and gathering nesting materials high in the Wasatch Mountains. There appeared to be a few pairs of these sparrows nesting in the same area near a creek. I had observed a few scuffles between the Song Sparrows earlier in the morning when the light was awful because of fog and clouds.
This adult poked around in the grasses for a few minutes looking for suitable nesting materials. Even though snow had fallen in the mountains overnight the sparrows I watched still felt the urge to get busy building their nests.
Song Sparrow gathering nesting materials – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
There might be an advantage for these Song Sparrows when they nest early. I didn’t see any Brown-headed Cowbirds in the area yet and they parasitize the nests of Song Sparrows frequently in the Wasatch Mountains. If the sparrows nest and incubate early enough maybe they can avoid rearing the young of the cowbirds. There is a risk of nesting too early in the high country because it can still get very cold up there and snow fell in the high country of the Wasatch Range just yesterday morning.
I love listening to Song Sparrows singing all year round but their songs are even more exuberant during the spring nesting season.
I am looking forward to photographing the Song Sparrows I find during this nesting season. Who knows, I might even photograph this sparrow’s young before too long.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Song Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
On Thursday the 5th I saw a million cowbirds both male and female courting and mating at BRMBR. Maybe it was just my timing at being there but I have never seen so many! The males are a bit like the grackles. They posture with one another sticking their head straight up in the air then take a bow while calling toward the female. One poor female had 5 males chasing her on the ground while she gobbled up midges in the grass.
Hopefully, this little charmer will be able to rear its own young this season.
Thank you for showcasing this diligent lbj.
I remember as a small child, finding a Song Sparrow nest with eggs in some overgrown hedges. At that time I thought all sparrows were the same and when I learned there was another kind besides House (“English” as they were called then) Sparrows (or, as my grandmother taught me, “Chippies”). This spurred my interest in learning more about birds and their nests. Sadly, we had a singing male here in Connecticut only about three weeks ago, but the shrub it was occupying had to be removed by landscapers.