American Tree Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow

The winter plumages of Chipping Sparrows and American Tree Sparrows look very similar. The ranges of these species typically overlap only during migration, but Chipping Sparrows seem to be increasingly found north of their traditional winter range. The usually reliable distinguishing mark–a breast spot on the tree sparrow where there is none on the Chipping Sparrow–can be deceptively unreliable.

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Field Marks

American Tree Sparrow by Jennifer Taggart, Chipping Sparrow by Bob Vuxinic

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Field Mark	American Tree Sparrow	Chipping Sparrow

Overall	This sparrow (6.25″ long, 16 cm) looks similar in summer and winter. It has a rusty cap and a rusty eye line, a bicolored bill, and a breast spot that is sometimes hidden.	In summer this slightly smaller sparrow (5.5″ long, 14 cm) has a chestnut cap, a distinct white eyebrow and black eyeline, and a dark bill. However, in winter the striping is much duller, the chestnut cap is typically obscured, and the bill may look pink.
American Tree Sparrow by Susan Szeszol, Chipping Sparrow by Mark Haas ×
Crown	Cinnamon rust year-round with faint gray streak down middle in winter.	In winter more tan/brown than rufous with some streaking.
American Tree Sparrow by Gord Belyea, Chipping Sparrow by Cristiane Dornbusch ×
Eyeline	Rusty brown eyeline	Black or dark brown eyeline
American Tree Sparrow by Jennifer Taggart, Chipping Sparrow by Bob Vuxinic ×
Bill	Bi-colored bill, dark upper mandible, yellow lower mandible	Pinkish bill in winter
American Tree Sparrow by George Preston, Chipping Sparrow by Scott and Nancy Lysle ×
Breast	Grayish breast with central, isolated, breast spot (sometimes hidden)	Grayish breast with no breast spot
American Tree Sparrow by Jill McElderry-Maxwell, Chipping Sparrow by Glenda Simmons ×
Shoulder	Rusty patch on shoulder	Plain gray shoulder
American Tree Sparrow by Frank and Sandra Horvath, Chipping Sparrow by Bill Wright ×
Wing Bars	Two white wing bars	Two buffy wing bars
American Tree Sparrow by Jennifer Taggart, Chipping Sparrow by Errol Taskin ×

Learn More

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website contains detailed species accounts and cool facts, as well as photographs and paintings from a variety of sources. Visit the online guide pages for American Tree Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow to learn more about both species.

Sounds

American Tree Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow

Field Marks

Learn More

Sounds

American Tree Sparrow

Song

Song

Song

Calls

Calls

Calls

Chipping Sparrow

Song

Song

Calls

Calls

Flight calls

Range

American Tree Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow