Out of Towners

Whoever thinks that sparrows are just "little brown birds" is doing a serious disservice not only to the birds, but to their own selves. To deprive oneself of the multi-faceted gorgeousness that is a sparrow - each one - is really a travesty. Just look at these (same species, different individuals) delectable American Tree Sparrows. They breed near the arctic, so wintering in Minnesota is actually a balmy vacation. Look at the details of several shades of warm russet along with the rich tans and browns. And we haven't even begun to talk about the bi-colored (meaning, two tone) bill, or the eye line that is so distinctive. In other words - how can you dismiss such a beauty as the sparrow?