Ice pellets on window glass and birds chirping were this morning’s first noises.

Many birds are taking turns at the feeders, after our first measurable snowfall with a crusty top of sleet and freezing rain.

Juncos, goldfinches, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, mourning doves, and even a bluebird are stuffing themselves with seed and suet.

But I decided to take a closeup look with my camera at just one bird, a Tree Sparrow.

Tree Sparrows are winter visitors. They have come south to us.

In summer, American Tree Sparrows breed near the northern treeline, where straggling thickets of alder, willow, birch, and spruce give way to open tundra. Though some American Tree Sparrows nest in open tundra, most territories include at least a few small trees that the males can sing from, along with a source of water.

Three Tree Sparrows in a rain shower, Ohara Koson.

Nice colors, those sparrowy browns and grays, with some feathers edged in white. Winter landscape bird.