V/2•07/2014 Park rangers recommend these six popular The Lake County Department of Public Resources, comprehensive guides: Parks & Trails Division, manages more than three dozen parks, preserves and boat ramps. 1. A Field Guide to the Birds, Eastern and Central North America of Lake County Lake County park rangers lead regularly Sparrows scheduled nature hikes, bird & butterfly surveys (Sixth Edition, 2010, Roger Tory Peterson) 2. Stokes Field Guide to Birds, Check out Lake County and other outdoor adventures in some of these Eastern Region Parks & Trails Division’s collection of parks. In partnership with the Lake County (Second Edition, 2013, educational wildlife pamphlets: Water Authority, Parks & Trails also schedules Donald and Lillian Stokes) guided paddling adventures. For a listing of 3. All the Birds of North America **Birds of Lake County Lake County parks and events, call (352) 253-4950, (Second Edition, 2002, The American Bird Conservancy) **Butterflies of Lake County e-mail [email protected] or log 4. Field Guide to the Birds of **Eastern Bluebird on to www.lakecountyfl.gov/parks. North America (Sixth Edition, 2011, **Florida Scrub-jay For more information about sparrows or The National Geographic Society) **Gopher Tortoise other birds, check out a field guide to birds 5. Focus Guide to the Birds of available at many local libraries or bookstores. North America **Planting Natives vs. Similar Non-Native Information on birds is also available online at (Second Edition, 2005, Kenn Kaufman) **Snakes of Lake County the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 6. The Sibley Guide to Birds **Sparrows of Lake County (Second Edition, 2014, David Allen Sibley) www.birds.cornell.edu. **Swallowtail Butterflies of Lake County **Vultures, Hawks & Owls of Lake County **Wading Birds of Lake County repellent Bird watchers in Florida tend to should contain DEET. **Wood Warblers of Lake County bring a little more on their trips Some experienced Florida bird To request a free copy of any of these than their Northern peers. While the watchers also recommend wearing educational publications, call (352) 253-4950, average temperature in Lake County ° hats to keep the sun out of the face. e-mail [email protected] or is a mild 72 F, the summer months log on to www.lakecountyfl.gov/parks . in Central Florida can be steamy. One other tip from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Outside enthusiasts Commission are always encouraged is do not to carry sunscreen confront to protect skin from or feed sunburn, insect repellent to ward off wildlife, An educational wildlife pamphlet of the mosquitoes and plenty of water to including avoid dehydration. Sunscreen should Public Resources Department Lake County Department of Public alligators. Parks & Trails Division be 15 SPF or higher and applied 20 12929 County Landfill Road, Tavares, Florida 32778 Resources, Parks & Trails Division minutes before heading out. Insect 3. 3. Eastern Towhee 5. Grasshopper 8. Lincoln’s Sparrow 11. Swamp Sparrow (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) (Melospiza georgiana) Size: 6.8-8.2 in. (Ammodramus savannarum) Size: 5.1-5.9 in. Size: 4.7-5.5 in. 9. Weight: 1.1-1.8 oz Size: 4-5 in. Weight: .6-.7 oz. Weight .4-.8 oz. 1. Bachman’s Sparrow This large sparrow is also Weight: .5-.7 oz. While common, it is rarely During the breeding season, (Aimophila ) aestivalis known as the Red-eyed This bird’s name is derived seen or heard. These birds this sparrow frequents Size: 4.8-6 in. Towhee, though towhees not only from its diet, but can be easily overlooked wetlands. Its longer legs in Florida and Georgia have during migration as it help it in wading in shallow Weight: .7 to .8 oz. also from its insect-like song. straw-colored eyes. Florida has two distinct moves through dense cover. waters. This bird is the only sparrow sub-species: the migratory endemic to the United Field Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum States. It dwells in mature 4. pretensis and the endangered pine forests with grass and (Spizella pusilla) 6. endemic Florida Grasshopper shrubs, hence its former 4.7 to 5.9 in. Size: Sparrow, Ammadramus name, Pine-woods Sparrow. 11. Vesper Sparrow Weight: .4-.5 oz. savannarum floridanus. 12. This sparrow is a common (Pooecetes gramineus) 2. Chipping Sparrow visitor to Florida. Its song 6. Henslow’s Sparrow 9. Savannah Sparrow Size: 5.1-6.3 in (Spizella passerine) is distinctive, but it can (Ammodramus henslowii) (Passerculus sandwichensis) 12. 10. .7-1 oz. 5-6 in. be missed by those who Weight: Size: 4.3-5.1 in. 4-6 in. This “smart” sparrow is .4-.6oz cannot hear the plaintive Size: Size: Weight: thought to learn songs from whistles that usually end in Weight .4-.5 oz. Weight: .5-1 oz. This is a common sparrow its parents and responds a high, rapid trill. This small grassland bird This bird is a common to inviting yards and quickly to habitat changes. stays well concealed. In winter resident in a variety gardens. One of the smallest addition to its feeble song, of habitats throughout the sparrows, it often nests in it will often run along the state, sometimes in flocks 13. White-crowned ornamental evergreens. 5. ground hidden by the brush numbering in to the low Sparrow instead of flying. hundreds. 8. 2. (Zonotrichia leucophrys) Size: 5.9-6.3 in. Le Conte’s Sparrow 10. Song Sparrow 7. Weight: .9-1 oz. (Melospiza melodia) (Ammodramus leconteii) This distinctive sparrow 4.7-6.7 in. Size: 4.7 in. Size: features bold black and .7-.9oz Weight .4-.6 oz. Weight white stripes on its head. This shy sparrow is nearly It can greatly vary in size impossible to flush, as it and appearance in part 14. White-Throated prefers to run along the because it is one of the Sparrow most widespread North ground. When it sings, the bird (Zonotrichia albicollis) mounts an exposed perch. American birds. True to its name, this sparrow is a Size: 6-7 in. persistent singer. Weight: .9-1.1 oz. 4. This sparrow comes in two 14. 1. 7. colors, white-crowned and tan-crowned, which is determined by genetic differences.

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