My favorite sparrow is the Savannah Sparrow. This sweet little bird is a fan of the blueberry barrens of Beech Hill Preserve during breeding season, then they leave for points south (as far as the Yucatan Peninsula) in winter. Similar to a Song Sparrow but with lighter-colored, more dapper-looking attire, and sporting a yellow eyebrow.
Most fun for me is their insect-like song—a sibilant trill with occasional other notes, often ending in a little hiccup.
Thus, it was with some excitement that I came upon a first-of-year Savannah on the hill this chilly overcast morning.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:13 a.m. real time (8:13 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin**
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. Downy Woodpecker
4. Song Sparrow**
5. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
6. Blue Jay (v)
7. Mourning Dove (v)
8. Northern Cardinal**
9. American Crow*
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
11. Chipping Sparrow
12. Eastern Towhee
13. Field Sparrow
14. American Goldfinch
15. Eastern Phoebe**
16. Yellow-rumped Warbler
17. Tree Swallow
18. Eastern Bluebird
19. Savannah Sparrow†
20. Northern Flicker
21. Hermit Thrush
22. Herring Gull* (v)
23. Brown Creeper (v)
24. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
25. Hairy Woodpecker
26. Common Raven
27. Common Loon (v)
28. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
Elsewhere
29. Wild Turkey
30. White-throated Sparrow† (v)
31. Tufted Titmouse (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, brown-headed cowbird, chipping sparrow, common loon, common raven, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, field sparrow, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, red-breasted nuthatch, red-winged blackbird, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, wild turkey, yellow-rumped warbler
