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John Pogacnik Sparrow Sightings

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  • April 2019
  • Sparrow Sightings

Sparrow Sightings

  • ​Posted April 24, 2019

By Andy Avram, Interpretive Manager

Did you know that 28 different species of sparrows have been recorded in the state of Ohio? Of those, 18 are found in the state every year as migrants, breeders or wintering. Nine of them were found on the Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Lake Erie Bluffs on April 21 including grasshopper sparrow, chipping sparrow, field sparrow, fox sparrow, white-throated sparrow, vesper sparrow, song sparrow, swamp sparrow and eastern towhee. This coming weekend should also still be good for sparrow diversity too. Other good birds seen were Caspian and Forster’s terns, common loons, bald eagles and a purple finch.  

photo by P. Cisto Images

white-throated sparrow

The complete list of birds found is as follows:

  • Canada goose
  • Wood duck
  • Red-breasted merganser
  • Mourning dove
  • Killdeer
  • Ring-billed gull
  • Herring gull
  • Caspian tern
  • Forster's tern
  • Common loon
  • Double-crested cormorant
  • Great blue heron
  • Turkey vulture
  • Sharp-shinned hawk
  • Bald eagle
  • Yellow-bellied sapsucker
  • Red-bellied woodpecker
  • Downy woodpecker
  • Pileated woodpecker
  • Northern flicker
  • White-eyed vireo
  • Blue jay
  • Tree swallow
  • Barn swallow
  • Tufted titmouse
  • White-breasted nuthatch
  • House wren
  • Golden-crowned kinglet
  • Ruby-crowned kinglet
  • Hermit thrush
  • American robin
  • Gray catbird
  • Brown thrasher
  • European starling
  • Purple finch
  • American goldfinch
  • Grasshopper sparrow
  • Chipping sparrow
  • Field sparrow
  • Fox sparrow
  • White-throated sparrow
  • Vesper sparrow
  • Song sparrow
  • Swamp sparrow
  • Eastern towhee
  • Eastern meadowlark
  • Red-winged blackbird
  • Brown-headed cowbird
  • Common grackle
  • Northern cardinal

photo by Joan Scharf

song sparrow

On April 20, Lake Metroparks led the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Birder’s Day Trip. We loaded the bus and luckily drove out of the rain for cool but dry weather in the park. Our day started with nesting great blue herons at the rookery on Bath Road. We then popped up to a marsh where we got fantastic views of an American mink, swallows, pine and yellow warblers and some waterfowl. In the northern section of the park, we visited a wonderful birding area near Brecksville Train Station and saw yellow-throated warblers and a bald eagle on its nest. Overall the day was fantastic with 61 species seen. Our next trips to Magee Marsh should have even more bird diversity!  

fox sparrow

Upcoming birding programs & trips


Sunday Morning Bird Walks: These bird walks provide birders of all abilities the opportunity to share the spring bird migration phenomenon. Binoculars and field guides are recommended and beginners are encouraged to attend. To join us for any of these programs, please click on the following links to register.

April 28

May 5

May 12

May 19


International Migratory Bird Day: Birds are returning to Ohio and points further north from their wintering ground in Central and South America. Help celebrate their return at the International Migratory Bird Day. We welcome new birders, families and anyone else looking to learn about birds and figure out how to get started birding. There will be informational booths, activities, bird hikes and live birds. Participate in an event warm up with an optional morning bird walk at 9 am. The rest of the festivities will then kick off at 1 pm. 

May 11


Birders Day Trip to Magee Marsh: We'll travel by comfortable bus to one of the hottest spots in Ohio, where breeding birds and migrants can be seen from the famous "boardwalk". Other locations will be included as time permits.

May 12

May 16


Bird Walks: These morning birding adventures are at Lake Metroparks’ best birding spots, located along major migration corridors with histories of good migration days. New birders are welcome! To join us for any of these programs, please click on the following links to register.

May 15

May 25

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