The American Tree Sparrow is a common winter visitor in the northern U.S. Despite their name, these sparrows stay close to the ground. When foraging, they’ll kick through leaf litter with their powerful feet, beat seedheads open with their wings or grab a bite from a backyard feeder. Sadly, American Tree Sparrow populations have steeply declined since the 1970s. You can welcome these birds to your neighborhood by growing native plants, keeping cats indoors, and filling bird feeders with a millet-rich seed mix.

This episode is dedicated in memory of Pat and Jo Ann Adams of Hartville, Ohio — who enjoyed caring for backyard birds and shared that joy with others.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.

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