Sparrows are so much more than LBJ's (little brown jobs). Check out some of the sparrows that visit my neck of the woods each year. First up - Song Sparrow who announces the arrival of spring here (1/12)

Next is the ever-cheerful and tiny Chipping Sparrow. Both male and female adults have a bright, rusty cap (L). Juveniles are a little trickier to ID because they don't have a cap and they're streaky (R). Juveniles and fall sparrows are HARD (2/12)

If you live near grasslands like me, you get to see lots of these guys: Savannah Sparrow. They's one of the streaky-fronted sparrows but you can recognize them by their bright yellow eyebrows. They're so special they've got their own genus! (Passerculus) (3/12)

White-throated sparrows live up to their name. They also have yellow eyebrows, but no streaks on the breast. (4/12)

Here's another easy one: White-crowned sparrow. Just look at that "bike helmet"! (5/12)

Another in the fancy markings department has got to be Harris's Sparrow. I only ever see them in the fall (non-breeding plumage) but I guess they're even flashier in the spring. They breed waaaayyyyy up north (north of 60) (6/12)

Here are a few "advanced level" sparrows. Lincoln's, Vesper, Swamp and American Tree Sparrow. Experts are always talking about lores, so you should probably look that up (7/12)

Clay-coloured sparrows are really common here all summer but are best identified by what they sound like rather than what they look like. BUZZZ BUZZZ BUZZZ (8/12)

I've only ever seen a Lark Sparrow once, which is probably not surprising since I live at the very tippy-top of their northern range. Wowzers! What a beauty! (9/12)

Here's a thing... the House Sparrow? It's an "old world sparrow"; an introduced species not really very closely related to our North American sparrows. I still love 'em, especially when they have pool parties. (10/12)

Here's another thing... Junco? Totally a sparrow (11/12)

So, the next time someone says, "It's just a sparrow", take a closer look! Spring is a great time to learn about sparrows because most are WAY easier to ID in their breeding plumage than in the fall (They even come in borb versions )(12/12)

(13/12) If I got any of these ID's wrong, I'm sure someone will point it out, so stay tuned for corrections