Lead all scouts to a deeper appreciation of the natural world with troop badge work.
Scouts Programs
When we think about birds flying south for winter, we don’t typically imagine Wisconsin as their destination.![]()
![]()
While most birds migrate south, American tree sparrows think Wisconsin winter weather is ideal. Tree sparrows breed in Canada and Alaska and migrate south to northern and central North America for the winter. To identify this species, look for a tan, unstreaked breast with a dark smudge at the center. Their head is gray with a rusty cap and rusty eyeline. Their brown, streaked back has two white wing bars, and their bills are two-toned with a distinctive dark, upper mandible and a brighter yellow, lower mandible. ![]()
![]()
American tree sparrows have a misleading name as they spend most of their time on the ground. This is because the bird was named by European colonizers who were reminded of Eurasian tree sparrows back home. In reality, tree sparrows forage and nest on the ground. When foraging, they move in small flocks in weedy fields and under bird feeders. Everyday, they take in about 30 percent of their body weight! ![]()
![]()
Identifying sparrows can be challenging because many of them look similar and are brown in color. In Wisconsin, we have roughly 20 sparrow species that can be spotted at different times of year. Some only stop over during migration, while others use Wisconsin as a breeding ground in summer or as an overwintering site. The only species of sparrow that is a year-round resident is the house sparrow, which is an introduced species that is considered invasive. ![]()
![]()
What signs of winter do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood looking for cyclical events influenced by seasonal changes. ![]()
![]()
Video: Bird Buddy, Aldo Leopold Nature Center![]()
![]()
#PhenologyFriday #AmericanTreeSparrow #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside
