chipping sparrow

noun

1. a small, North American sparrow, Spizella passerina, common in urban areas.

chipping sparrow

noun

1. a common North American sparrow, Spizella passerina, having brown-and-grey plumage and a white eye stripe

Word History and Origins

Origin of chipping sparrow¹

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; chip ² + -ing ²

Example Sentences

But by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, a team led by Kelsey Reckling, 31, had counted 500 birds representing 38 species, including lazuli buntings, chipping sparrows and hermit warblers.

From Los Angeles Times

When a chipping sparrow trills, it could be that spring has arrived.

From Los Angeles Times

Not the nasty invasive English kind, but more than a half-dozen native species, including the chipping sparrow.

From Washington Post

For example, the chipping sparrow’s call alternates between two notes, like a musical trill.

From Washington Post

Sharon Gill, a biologist at Western Michigan University who was at the workshop, is studying how individual chipping sparrows respond to noise.

From The Verge