Tree Sparrows at East Point Park: February 2021

East Point Park runs along the top of the Scarborough Bluffs just west of Highland Creek.

“Pancake” Ice

During some winters, American Tree Sparrows are regular visitors to my birdfeeder but not this year so I was happy to see them today. The Tree Sparrow is actually not closely associated with trees. Its breeding habitat is in the far north, in the shrubby tundra beyond the tree-line. Seeds, insects, and berries make up most of the American Tree Sparrow’s diet. In winter, they eat primarily seeds and berries, while in summer their diet shifts to insects. If you look closely, you can see that the upper and lower bill are different colours.

American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
American tree Sparrow

Other birds:

European Starlings
European Starlings
European Starling
Downy Woodpecker (female)
Canada Geese
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
Greater Scaup
Hairy Woodpecker (male)
Hairy Woodpecker (male)
Northern Cardinal (male)

Some botany:

Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Sweetbrier (Rosa rubiginosa)
White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Phragmites (Phragmites australis)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Wild-cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)
European Birch (Betula pendula)
European Birch (Betula pendula)
European Birch (Betula pendula)
Highbush-cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
European Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
Apple (Malus)

NATURE QUOTE

A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Tree Sparrows at East Point Park: February 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Wonderful Thoreau quote. So beautifully put!
    And such beautiful pictures! Of the Tree Sparrows and other birds, the botany, the magnificent Bluffs. Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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