Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Our Guest
John Gerwin, Research Curator, Ornithology, NC Museum of Natural Sciences

There are ~130 species of sparrows in the world. And depending on your definition of "sparrow," about 25 can be seen in North Carolina. As a group, they install a sense of "dread" when it comes to identifying them. But for others, they are a fun challenge. There has been some research into a few of the NC species, but only a few. Many migrate through the state in the fall. Some species are common and adaptable and can be found in both urban and non-urban habitats. Others have very specific habitat preferences. John will go over some natural history and identification aspects of this group of seemingly drab birds - but as you'll see, they do not all look alike.