Feb 15, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3, Sparrow
Northern Illinois | 2/12/2019 11:26 am Local Time | Light Drizzle 33°F Light Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Male Sparrow Sometimes, we forget about common species. Sparrows are very common in Northern Illinois year around, so many photographers pass them over waiting for a less common creature. They can still make a nice photo. Sparrows tend to live close to people so they are always close at hand to capture an image. This male Sparrow seems rather stoic. Maybe it’s too rainy to be playful.
The Back Story Small birds are a challenge to capture. The Nikon 1 V3 with the 70-300mm lens allows for a 810mm effective focal length. It’s a long, not so fast lens at f5.6, but a very sharp lens. Still, it takes some practice to get a tack sharp image shooting handheld. For more insight, see Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story.
Quick Facts…
| Male Sparrow … grey cap, brown back, chestnut wings , white wingbars. undersides grey, black bib.
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| Habitat | Found around man made structures like cities, towns, & farms, but not natural habitats. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Grass, weeds, twigs, trash, often lined with feathers. |
| Diet | Mostly seeds particularly weed & grass seeds or waste grain. Occasionally, eats some insects, |
| Behavior | Forages while hopping on ground. Also, likes bird feeders for a wide variety of seeds. |
| Size | Length: 5.9-6.7 in | Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz | Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in |
Feb 13, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3, Sparrow
Northern Illinois | 1/24/2019 11:43 am Local Time | Light Snow 1°5F Moderate Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Female Sparrow Sometimes, we forget about common species. Sparrows are very common in Northern Illinois year around, so many photographers pass them over waiting for a less common creature. They can still make a nice photo. Sparrows tend to live close to people so they are always close at hand to capture an image. I think this bird is a female House Sparrow, but I’m not a birder. Please give me a comment if you think I’m wrong.
The Back Story Small birds can be challenging to capture even with a long, fast lens. The Nikon 1 V3 with the 70-300mm lens allows for a 810mm effective focal length. It’s a long, not so fast lens at f5.6, but a very sharp lens. Still, it takes some practice to get a tack sharp image shooting handheld. For more insight, see Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story.
Quick Facts…
| Female Sparrow … plain buffy-brown overall with dingy gray-brown underparts.
|
| Habitat | Found around man made structures like cities, towns, & farms, but not natural habitats. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Grass, weeds, twigs, trash, often lined with feathers. |
| Diet | Mostly seeds particularly weed & grass seeds or waste grain. Occasionally, eats some insects, |
| Behavior | Forages while hopping on ground. Also, likes bird feeders for a wide variety of seeds. |
| Size | Length: 5.9-6.7 in | Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz | Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in |
Mar 18, 2020 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2020, Last Snow Birds, Nikon 1 V3, Sparrow
Last Snow Birds | Sparrow Sparrows are very common and plentiful in northern Illinois. Many folks don’t pay much attention to them. They can still make a nice photo. For the whole story with all images, see Last Snow Birds | a 7 Image Story.
Feb 11, 2016 | AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II, Birds, Daily Image 2016, Nikon 1 V3, Sparrow
This Morning’s Pose It’s such a nice pose for a common bird.
May 22, 2015 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Birds, Daily Image 2015, Nikon 1 V1, Sparrow, Walkabout, Wildlife
Tonight’s walkabout had such Nice Light.
Apr 3, 2015 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Birds, Daily Image 2015, Nikon 1 V1, Sparrow, Wildlife
Hungry Sparrow Sparrows are very common in Northern Illinois so many photographers pass them over waiting for a less common creature. This guy ate heartily this morning after I refreshed the bird feeder. He seemed to be telling me something; like maybe, “don’t let the feeder get empty again.”
Feb 10, 2015 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2015, Nikon 1 V1, Sparrow, Walkabout, Wildlife
Sparrows Sometimes, we forget about common species. These Sparrows stay around northern Illinois all year long. Along today’s walkabout. they were sitting, all puffed out, enjoying a nice warm 30° winter day.
Jun 5, 2014 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Birds, Daily Image 2014, Nikon 1 V1, Sparrow, Wildlife
My walkabouts have been turning up more birds than usual. Tonight, it was the Song Sparrow. A rich, russet-and-gray bird with bold streaks down its white chest, the Song Sparrow is one of the most common sparrows in northern Illinois. Don’t let the large variety of color differences in this bird confuse you; it’s the first species to suspect, if you see a streaky sparrow in an open, shrubby, or wet area. When it perches on a low shrub, leans back, and sings a song, your day just got better. Although, it’s very common, it’s still a worthy subject particularly in nice sunset light.
