Songs are very helpful when identifying birds. The Lincoln’s sparrow song is a series of short notes that quickly rise and fall in pitch, with a whooshing quality that resembles the noise of rushing water. This sound quality relates to their typical habitat during the breeding season, when they are more likely to be found near running water like creeks and rivers.

Sparrows are a large group of small birds that are typically found on or near the ground and have cone-shaped beaks that are ideal for cracking open seeds. A key feature to look for on sparrows is the presence or absence of streaking on the chest. Their head patterns and unique songs are also a big help in identification. Some other sparrows likely to be seen in Teller County include: vesper, white-crowned, song and American tree sparrows and the dark-eyed juncos. Many additional sparrows are uncommon to rare migrants in Teller including: Brewer’s, Savannah, lark and clay-colored sparrows and also Colorado’s state bird the lark bunting.

Lincoln’s sparrows really like willows and also visit trees and shrubs around wet meadows. They will follow creeks up to treeline, where they roam into stunted bristlecone pine forests at the edges of the alpine tundra. During spring and fall migration they turn up in urban areas and around weedy fields looking for seeds. In addition to seeds they will also eat insects and other small invertebrates and they randomly visit yard feeder areas.

The body of the Lincoln’s sparrow is brownish above with a white belly and the sexes appear similar. They have a streaked chest that may also have a central spot similar to the song sparrow, and the two species share similar habitats. To separate the Lincoln’s from the song sparrow, look for pale yellow color on the chest and flanks. Also note that the Lincoln’s has a gray patch on the face and reddish streaks on top of the head.

Many sparrows gather in flocks during spring and fall migration, but the Lincoln’s are more solitary, appearing alone or in small groups. Lincoln’s sparrows are summer visitors, arriving in late May and typically departing by late September.

Joe LaFleur studied wildlife biology and communications at Colorado State University. He is author of the book Mountain Birds of Teller County and creator of “Better Birdwatching,” a DVD series on North American birds. His betterbirdwatching.com website features a Teller County Bird Checklist and Blog. Contact him with questions and feedback at joe@betterbirdwatching.com.