Bachman's Sparrow
Peucaea aestivalis
Rare and declining sparrow found in longleaf pine woodlands with grassy or brushy undergrowth. Usually quite secretive. Look for unstreaked grayish-tan underparts, rufous and gray pattern on back and wings, and rufous cap and eyeline. Similar to Cassin's and Botteri's Sparrow but no range or habitat overlap. Population west of Mississippi River brighter buffy below. Usually found singly. Easiest to detect when singing; listen for two-parted song, a thin whistle followed by a musical junco-like trill. Subsequent phrases usually differ in pitch.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Peucaea aestivalis
- Authority
- (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Genus
- Peucaea
Range and habitat
Bachman's sparrows occur primarily in the southeastern United States from the central region of peninsular Florida north to southeastern North Carolina and west through portions of Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri to eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas. Following forest conversion and the spread of agricultural fields up into the early 1900s, Bachman's sparrows rapidly expanded their range and began breeding in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and parts of Pennsylvania. However, this trend reversed during the 1930s as much of the eastern deciduous forest recovered. Bachman's sparrows are thought to have been extirpated from Virginia in the early 2000s, and North Carolina is now the northern periphery of their eastern range.<p>Among the three subspecies of Bachman's sparrow, Peucaea aestivalis aestivalis breeds furthest east, from southeast South Carolina to peninsular Florida. Peucaea a. bachmanii occurs west of P. a. aestivalis to Mississippi and north to Kentucky. P. a. illinoensis occurs in the westernmost region of the species' range.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
The Bachman's sparrow is considered to be near threatened by the IUCN and vulnerable to extinction by NatureServe as of 2023. North American Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that the species has declined since the survey began in 1966. The species' dependence on seral communities for habitat complicates conservation management.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Mountain Illadopsis
Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
Chunky, mid-sized, remarkably drab bird. Found in the understory of montane forest, usually in small groups. Very shy and skulking, rarely seen unless expressly searched for. Most often detected by voice: a descending series of whistles, usually given together by a group of birds, some of which add lower “chuk” notes. Similar to African Hill Babbler, but has a dull-brown rather than rich rufous-brown back. Also very similar to other illadopsises, but generally found at higher elevations, and has a less distinct white throat.
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Hemitesia pallidipes
A retiring warbler of densely vegetated forest edges, lightly wooded slopes, and clearings in foothill to montane regions; favors areas with thick ground vegetation. Dull and unremarkable to look at; plain brown above and paler brown below, with a white throat and eyebrow. More contrastingly marked than Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler; smaller and stouter than Manchurian and Japanese Bush Warblers. Song is what sets it apart: a sharp note followed by a quick bout of chattering and squeaking.
Rufous-tailed Hawk
Buteo ventralis
Scarce and often rather local hawk of temperate rainforest and edge, adjacent open and semiopen areas. Looks similar to the Red-tailed Hawk of North America. Hunts from perches, less often in flight. Light morph has dark leading edge to underwing; adult has diagnostic rusty tail with narrow dark bars. Rare dark morph has dark body plumage, adult tail washed grayish; immature has broader, blunter wings than very similar dark-morph immature of Variable Hawk.
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