White-crowned sparrows have arrived!

White-crowned sparrow  Photo by J.J. Meyer

     You know it's winter in Orange County when you see flocks of white-crowned sparrows hopping around your back yard. I spotted one yesterday and two today. Many people have reported waking to  their sweet song.
     They're easy to identify with their black and white striped head, pale beak and gray breast. Juveniles have a reddish brown stripe instead of the white.
     White-crowned sparrows are ground feeders and prefer to stay close to the safety of trees and shrubs. They'll visit platform feeders – though they're more likely to stay on the ground eating seeds dropped by other birds. 
    These small songbirds can travel as much as 2,600 miles to winter in Southern California. Welcome these visitors by tossing a handful of millet, shelled sunflower seeds or cracked corn on the ground and providing a source of fresh water.
 
    Happy birding!
    J.J.