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Don’t Let Identifying Winter Birds Drive You Nuts! Just about every bird lover looks forward to watching the beautiful array of wild birds gathered round winter bird feeders. Indeed, one could busily spend day after day identifying the myriad of feathered visitors. But one family of birds more than any other can cause huge identification headaches – sparrows. The good news is that by mastering just a few bird identification tricks, you’ll soon be identifying sparrows like a pro!  One of the nicknames common among birders is “LBJ" which simply stands for “little brown jobs." You know, those birds that dart by so quickly that they are only visible for a second or two. And at the top of the list of LBJ’s are sparrows. Sparrows are typically small, very active, very shy and usually a drab brown. They are very skittish, and scatter quickly anytime they sense approaching danger. This perceived danger includes predators and birders alike. Adding to identification difficulties, field markings on a number of sparrow species appear different depending on the time of year, the age of the bird. And some species of sparrows simply look incredibly alike. So you can see why sparrows can certainly be an identification headache for birders! So how can you make identification of winter sparrows easier? Following are a few tips from the experts. The technique of identifying winter sparrows should be broken down into five basic categories: • Plumage • Song • Call notes • Behavior or flight pattern • Habitat The first and most important field marking is the bird's plumage. When observing winter sparrows, make a few quick notes about the bird’s plumage. Specifically, what does the color pattern look like? Is the plumage streaked or spotted? Next, take a close look at the head and breast markings. What color is the crown or cap? What color is the eye stripe, eye line and eye ring? The bird’s wing markings, its tail length, shape, and color, the colors of its legs and feet, and the color of the bill are also often important factors when identifying winter sparrows. So let’s quickly recap these identification tips: Tip Number One - Is the breast streaked? If so, does the bird have a gray and white color pattern? If the gray and white color pattern is not present, does the bird have a reddish cap? If so, it could be an American Tree Sparrow or Field Sparrow. Tip Number Two - Is the crown boldly striped as found on the White-crowned Sparrow, or not boldly striped as seen on the Swamp Sparrow? Tip Number Three - If the breast is not streaked, are white outer tail feathers present as in the Vesper Sparrow? If white outer tail feathers are absent, is there a black bib and crown as in the Harris' Sparrow? If the bird does not have a black bib and crown, there are a number of possibilities, including the Fox Sparrow or Song Sparrow. These three tips can make your winter sparrow identification amazingly easier and certainly much more enjoyable. Want even more info? Whether you are an experienced or beginning birder, The Ten Secrets Of Identifying Birds e-book is a great read, and you’re sure to glean some interesting tips that you can put to immediate use in the field. This e-book will help you establish foundational birding skills, as well as build upon your existing skills. Each of us should never stop learning, and this e-book offers information that can make your birding activities more enjoyable and effective. Making this e-book an even sweeter deal are seven powerful bonuses that are absolutely free when you purchase The Ten Secrets Of Identifying Birds. So don’t shy away from those “little brown jobs" this winter! With a little practice and patience, you’ll be identifying them like a seasoned expert!  To learn more, head to: The Ten Secrets Of Identifying Birds                                                                    Winter Resource This is brought to you by the Gift-Gallery, “Where the Gift is in the Service!” Contact them at: (614) 529-9459, subscribe to their free gift-giving tips at: http://www.gift-gallery-blog.com  & grab your discount at: http://www.gift-gallery.us  with code 11010.       -30-      This is brought to you by the Ohio Help Group, working in conjunction with http://movingaheadcommunications.com to help companies and individuals with their business services worldwide. 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