American Tree Sparrow

The American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea), also known as the winter sparrow, is a medium-sized new world sparrow. It had been classified under the genus Spizella, but multilocus molecular evidence suggested placement in its own genus. When not nesting, these birds feed on the ground or in low shrubs, frequently in swarms. They primarily consume seeds and insects, though they occasionally consume berries as well. They frequently hang around feeders with dark-eyed juncos.

Adults have a grey underpart with a small dark mark on the breast, along with a red crown. They have a thin tail, brown wings with white bars, and a back that is rusty with lighter stripes. They have a rusty line through their eye and a grey face. Light brown spots are scattered throughout their flanks. They resemble chipping sparrows in appearance. As a result, they are also sometimes referred to as the winter chippy. Tundra or the northernmost reaches of the boreal forest in Alaska and northern Canada serve as their nesting grounds. They construct a ground nest.