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Swamp Sparrows in central NC

By Sally Siko

Happy to spend time with this cute little Swamp Sparrow earlier this month while birding at Cape Fear Shiners Park in Lillington, NC.
I’d located him in a scrubby area near one of the ponds by listening to his calls emanating from the brush.
That’s not surprising given that these little puffballs are known for their melodious and complex songs, which consist of a series of trills, buzzes, and whistles. Each individual even has its own unique variation of the song which I find fascinating.

True omnivores, Swamp Sparrows primarily feed on insects, seeds, and small invertebrates. During the breeding season, they may also consume berries and other fruits for an added boost of nutrition needed for reproduction.
You’ll usually see them picking off insects from the undergrowth or snacking on the various seeds scattered on the ground. This is nice because usually one can catch a good look at one from eye level vs. having to look high up in a tree to spot ‘em.



These little guys are a common find during the winter months across North Carolina. That being said, they tend to be a bit shy and as their name implies, they’re best found in muddy swamps and wet fields which can be difficult to access at times.
Still it’s nice to sit and enjoy watching them as they flit around cheerfully on a quest to fill that round bird belly so it’s worth the effort and the muddy boots.
They’ll stick around the Tarheel state from now through late April so if you haven’t seen one this year, there’s still plenty of time for you to find one too!


By the way, I’ve added more than 80 new birding tour dates to my Best Life Birding trip schedule including destinations in Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and even several trips right here in central NC at Cape Fear Shiners Park.

Check out the link below or shoot me an email and book your next birding adventure with me today!

https://birdwatchingnc.com/birdwatching-n-c-trips-birding-in-north-carolina/

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5