First Winter Sparrow

While out photographing birds in the yard afternoon of September 2, 2026, I noticed some movement relatively far back in and at the base of some bushes. I didn’t have a clear view and all I could see was the silhouette of a bird as it scratched in the leaves. I watched for a few minutes and decided I was probably looking at a Fox Sparrow. The activity continued for several minutes. Finally the bird emerged and I could positively identify it as a Fox sparrow, the first winter sparrow of the season! (Unfortunately, no photo.) I was quite happy with myself for the initial identification!

Identification factors:

The bird was scratching with both feet simultaneously.
The bird was a sparrow and alone (ie, not gregarious).
Although it seems early, fall is in the air and I can begin to expect winter arrivals.

I consider the Fox sparrow one of our winter species, since winter is the only time it appears in my yard. The other sparrows I consider winter species are the Golden-crowned sparrow and the Song sparrow.

I also had an adult (probably male) Red crossbill sneak into the madrone tree but not descend to a water feature and a pair of Golden-crowned kinglets…

and a flock of about 15 Bushtits that utilized the water features.

I left the yard to watch the Texas/Ohio State game (which UT came from behind to win by a single point!). While fixing my dinner early in the game I looked out the kitchen window and saw a bright yellow warbler preening just beyond the watercourse so I grabbed my camera and went back outside. The warbler had gone and been too wet and fluffed up for identification.

A short while later I had a Yellow-rumped warbler