June 15, 2013 / Leslie

Weekend Birding: Lincoln’s Sparrow

Birds, Lincoln's Sparrow, Nature, Photography, Photos

The Lincoln’s Sparrow is one of the more elusive birds of North America. They have a large range but are difficult to find and secretive in nature preferring the cover of dense shrubs.

Last month I was fortunate to stumble across one along a trail in the forest preserve. I was searching for migrating warblers when I spotted this little guy in a shrub along the DuPage River. A quick pause between the branches was the best opportunity I had to get a shot of him and then he was gone.

I wasn’t able to get an unobscured photo of the entire bird. They resemble the Song Sparrow but without the large spot on the breast. Also, the Lincoln’s has fine streaking on a buffy colored upper breast while the Song has coarser streaking on a whitish breast. I did get a shot of the front of the bird, and you can clearly see the color and the streaking, but being a shy bird, he stuck his head behind a leaf and looks a little silly.
(Click thumbnail for a larger view.)

Long Distance Migrant

The Lincoln’s Sparrows are long distance migrants making the journey north and south each year. They breed mostly in the boreal regions of Canada and winter in the southern US and Mexico. They don’t have a year-round range.

I only get a couple of weeks to see them as they pass through the Chicago area. This is a bird that most people will never see unless they go out searching for it. This is not a sparrow that will come to your backyard feeder.

Interesting Facts:

It’s such a secretive little bird that not much about is known about it. I was able to dig up one interesting note:

• John James Audubon found this species in 1833 while on an expedition in Nova Scotia and named it after his travel companion Thomas Lincoln.

Saturday Snapshot was originated by Alyce at At Home With Books. For the summer it will be hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.