The chipping sparrows (Spizella passerina) are some of the cutest little winter visitors that we get around here. This year they were later than usual to arrive, and we definitely don’t have as many as usual, either. That said, I’m still seeing quite a few of them each day at my feeding stations and out in the woods around my property. They like to perch in the trees and swoop in to feed off the ground. They seem to prefer the smaller seeds, but I do see them with mealworms from time to time as well. They hop around on the ground, often in small groups, and don’t seem to get disturbed by much. The scuffling cardinals, incoming doves, and even squirrels don’t usually frighten them. Earlier this week there was a large red tailed hawk far up in the sky being harassed by crows and one screech from that bird had all the little chips gone almost instantly. It’s nice to know that at least they recognize and fear predators.