Some juvenile birds: Tis the season

 

An immature White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) peeks inquisitively from a grape thicket. It was part of a family unit of 3-4 young birds and two adults. I have found this species to be quite curious; nosy, almost. Nonetheless, they typically remain well-concealed in dense growth, peering at objects of interest from within the foliage. White-eyed Vireos are also accomplished mimics and insert snippets of other species' songs and calls into their repertoire. Gray Catbirds, Blue Jays, Willow Flycatchers, Eastern Towhees and other species in earshot are all fodder for copy-catting. This vireo family was in Ross County, Ohio, on August 22, 2024.

This little streaked sparrow might throw one for a loop, especially as this species doesn't hold its juvenile plumage for very long. When the adult arrives to feed the little beggar (2nd photo), its identity is instantly clear. While searching out Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels in a Ross County cemetery yesterday, I was temporarily distracted by a family unit of Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina), the youth noisily exhorting the hard-working parents to bring more food.

In this photo, the adult has a beakful of moths for junior. Chipping Sparrows are wide-ranging and adaptive. I see them in the most urban areas, and also very wild places such as the high West Virginia mountains, and massive alvar fens along the shoreline of Lake Huron in northern Michigan. They are always a welcome sight no matter where they are, as is the dry staccato trill of males. These sparrows were seen and photographed on the same trip as the vireo photo was made.