Bird ID - Sparrow, Finch Identification

backyard birds of modesto california website

Short ID descriptions for sparrows and finch.

Even experts on birds find it difficult to identify between these little birds, but here are some distinquishing features to look for. Bird measurements are from tip of beak to end of tail.

Bird Identification - Characteristics

White Crowned Sparrow
7"
BIRD ID SIZE: Large sized sparrow|TOP OF HEAD: Black and white stripes| BELLY: Grayish brown unstreaked

House Sparrow
6"
BIRD ID SIZE: Middle sized sparrow| TOP OF HEAD: Grey cap on head| BELLY AREA: Male black throat, black bib

Song Sparrow
6"
BIRD ID SIZE: Middle sized sparrow| HEAD: Streaked| BELLY AREA: Streaked heavily. Central spot on breast| SUMMARY: Overall brownish red streaks

Fox Sparrow
7"
BIRD ID SIZE: Large sparrow| UPPER HEAD AND UPPER BODY: brown darkish| BELLY AREA: Dark streaks on breast

Chipping Sparrow
5 1/2"
BIRD ID UPPER HEAD:Rusty cap with winter crown streaked black, White stripe above eye,Black stripe through the eye

Golden Crowned Sparrow
7"
BIRD ID SIZE: Large sized sparrow| TOP OF HEAD: Yellow stripe on top of head and black eyebrows| BELLY AREA: Unstreaked

Lincoln's Sparrow
5 1/2"
BIRD ID SIZE: Middle sized sparrow| TOP OF HEAD: Reddish_brown crown with thin gray center stripe. Wide gray eyebrows| BELLY AREA: Buffy wash wiht fine streaks of black

House Finch
5 1/2"
BIRD ID SIZE: Same sized as a sparrow, square tail |(MALE) TOP OF HEAD FORHEAD, EYEBROWS & THROAT: Red | CHEEKS & BELLY: streaked brown | (FEMALE)Brown streaked all over, w/o eyebrow

Purple Finch
6"
BIRD ID SIZE: Similar to house finch but looks chuckier and shorter tail| MALE purple finch is reddish rasberry colored| BELLY AREA: unstreaked

Goldfinch
4 1/2 - 5"
BIRD ID SIZE: Smaller than sparrow, Yellow overall, with black tips on wings and black tail| MALE IN MATING SEASON:TOP OF HEAD BLACK