Birds of Reston, Virginia: Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

white-throated sparrow in an evergreen bush in reston, virginia

A sparrow is a sparrow is a sparrow…. Or is it? I saw house sparrows on my walk today, but I also saw a song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). Here’s how to tell the difference.

Read more …

Birds of Reston, Virginia: Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

carolina wren on tree branch in reston virginia singing

I was just complaining yesterday about how the Carolina wrens are difficult to get photos of because they spend so much time in the leaf litter, only hopping out onto the base of a tree trunk long enough for me to point my camera at them before immediately disappearing into the leaf litter once more. Read more …