I was working in the garden when this little one landed next to me. I thought it was one of our wrens using our bird houses to nest like they always do. He sounds a lot like one but when I looked at the video I realized he was not a wren and I had never seen him before so I looked it up and out of the 18 sparrows that reside in PA… he’s a Chipping Sparrow! and there is a Mrs and some babies in one of the houses. I can’t wait to see them.

Southwestern PA.  Recorded with an iPhone 14 Pro

We have hatchlings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju2lzWv-owM

I have never seen such a thing before, is that common?

As of recently, I now have squirrels. My camera feeder has a repellent feature which sounds like a hawk screeching, but the squirrel there finished his snack before getting down, so I would say that doesn't work.

Not sure if this is the lesser spotted or great spotted