December can be an interesting time for migrants. On Sunday, as I came out my front door, I heard a familiar call and quickly located the source - a small sparrow that was foraging in my front lawn. While White-throated and Song Sparrows are common around my home at this time of year, this bird was a Chipping Sparrow. Although it is a very common summer resident, I have rarely see one here between late October and early April. So to
find one here in my front yard in mid-December was a treat. However, what really surpised me was that this bird appeared to be in fresh breeding plumage. Talk about a confusing bird! I don't know if it was a late Fall Migrant headed South or real early migrant North.
