Harris's Sparrow

Harris's Sparrows are big, boldly patterned sparrows of the far north. So far north, in fact, that for them, going south for the winter means going to the Midwest--from Wyoming and Nebraska down to north Texas and Louisiana. In north Louisiana, they are regular but uncommon. In south Louisiana, we're lucky to see a small handful every winter.

This Harris's Sparrow was taped down in Cameron Parish, in the Baton Rouge Audubon Society's sanctuary at Peveto Woods. It has been seen a couple of times in December, but like most Harris's Sparrows, it's wary and doesn't often offer good looks.