An American Tree Sparrow Visits the Backyard in Western Maine

The American tree sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) is a plump and medium-sized sparrow also known as a winter sparrow. Field markings include a rusty-colored cap and eyeline on a gray head and brown wings with white bars. The beak is small and the upper part is dark and the lower part is yellow. The breast is a gray to buff color with a distinctive dark spot in the middle. These sparrows are frequent visitors to backyards and feeders during the winter months.

This particular American tree sparrow took a break from its search for food, to play in the snow. It hung around long enough for me to take a few photographs.

An American tree sparrow standing in a pile of snow in the winter.

An American tree sparrow standing in the snow on a sunny day.

An American tree sparrow standing in a pile of snow on a wooden post.

An American tree sparrow in a pile of snow.

An American tree sparrow playing in the snow.

An American tree sparrow looking for seeds in the snow.