Bird of the week 2024 | Song sparrow

Song sparrow [MichaelWarren.com]

Song sparrow

This winter visitor to Marion County is a terrific singer, as its name suggests, and one of its many songs sounds like the beginning to Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony.” Song sparrows learn songs from their neighbors and use the shared songs to distinguish familiar birds from strangers. The males memorize a set list of their favorite songs, then shuffle and repeat songs in a sort of custom mix tape to attract females. This one was photographed at the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park.