Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) - 23Oct2016

The poor common species never get good coverage. Song Sparrows can be found all over the US. They are actually very diverse and can appear differently in different regions. Someday I will get around to posting pics showing the variation. For now the below photo is from Fort Fisher, NC. Here is some text from the Cornell website:

"A rich, russet-and-gray bird with bold streaks down its white chest, the Song Sparrow is one of the most familiar North American sparrows. Don’t let the bewildering variety of regional differences this bird shows across North America deter you: it’s one of the first species you should suspect if you see a streaky sparrow in an open, shrubby, or wet area. If it perches on a low shrub, leans back, and sings a stuttering, clattering song, so much the better."