An Activity Guide About the Songbirds of British Columbia Family EMBERIZIDAE: Buntings & Sparrows

FIELD MARKS There are 32 species of sparrows found in British Columbia. Many of these birds are some shade of brown and camouflage well with their surroundings. The many different species can be very difficult to tell apart. FOOD These birds rely on seeds and insects. They use their short, thick bills to crack open seeds. They forage mainly on the ground or in low grass or bushes. Sparrows that live near water have been known to eat crustaceans and other marine life. HABITAT Most of these birds live on or near the ground. Many also migrate to the southern United States for the winter. NESTING The female usually builds the nest in low bushes or on the ground. The nest is often an open cup-shaped structure of grass, weeds and twigs. Some nests are built with a canopy or under an overhang of a cliff. The female incubates the eggs; both parents feed the young. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)