SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

chipping sparrow

noun chip·ping sparrow \ ˈchi-piŋ- \

Updated on: 17 Mar 2018

Definition of chipping sparrow

: a small gray-breasted North American sparrow (Spizella passerina) with a black line through the eye, a white line above it, and in breeding plumage a reddish patch on the top of the head

See chipping sparrow defined for kids

Recent Examples of chipping sparrow from the Web

Permanent resident pine warblers, Eastern bluebirds, field sparrows and chipping sparrows also seemed to be making a good living in the short grass.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "A variety of birds share park’s lake, grass and trees | Charlotte Observer," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chipping sparrow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chipping sparrow

chip to cheep

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1791

See Words from the same year

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up chipping sparrow? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

grudging

play

unwilling or reluctant

BROWSE DICTIONARY

chipping chisel

chipping hammer

chipping sparrow

chipping squirrel

chip potato

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz

cats-on-impossible-timber

More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz

True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game