Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina

Chipping Sparrow has a partial preformative molt, and limited prealternate molts that are largely restricted to feathers on the head. Rectrix shape and feather wear can vary considerably within age classes, and therefore molt limits are generally the best clue for ageing. However, these can also be indistinct, and especially by spring, some intermediates may need to be considered M-FCA (AHY). Although females are on average slightly duller in plumage, sex is reliably determined only via brood patch / cloacal protuberance during the breeding season.

Juvenile plumage is very similar to that of Clay-colored Sparrow; exercise caution where ranges overlap. Chipping Sparrow tends to be larger, has a proportionately shorter tail, and somewhat more distinct streaking on the breast.

Quick tips

• Check the wing for molt limits - a contrast between darker/fresher greater coverts vs. the paler block of primary coverts, primaries, and secondaries is indicative of FCF/FCA (HY/SY), while the wing is more uniform in colour and wear on DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) birds.
• Examine the shape and condition of the rectrices - they tend to be narrower and more pointed on FCF/FCA (HY/SY) birds, and by spring also tend to be more visibly frayed / worn, while DCB/DCA (AHY/ASY) birds have somewhat broader rectrices that typically show only moderate wear by spring.

Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2016). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)