Camo Birds

These little house sparrows kept me in awe as I watched the one hide in the gravel. Was the gravel placed to camoflage the birds, or did they select this location on their own. Was the little bird aware of how well he was hidden in the colors of the gravel? I also wondered if the bird on the feeder was intentionally spilling food onto the ground for the other bird to eat. Animal behaviour fascinates me.