Baird's Sparrow
Centronyx bairdii
One of North America's most sought-after sparrows due to its small breeding range and secretive habits. Breeds in extensive tall grasslands; winters in similar grassy habitats. Pale tan overall with crisp black streaking on breast. Warm buffy face is brightest to the rear of the eyebrow and broken up by thin black markings. Easy to see when perched, singing its high-pitched tinkling trill; otherwise shy and difficult to locate. Population is declining due to development of prime grassland breeding habitat.
Identification
The Baird's sparrow can be identified as a small brown streaked sparrow. Their faces are a yellow-brown color featuring subtle black markings. These birds have a narrow band of brown streaks on their chests. This species can be distinguished from others by its unique broad ochre central crown stripe. Juveniles exhibit similar coloration but often have more streaking. Adult size is comparable for both males and females, no sexual dimorphism is exhibited. Adults are generally about 12 cm (5") and weigh 17-21 g (½ to ¾ oz); their wingspan is usually around 23 cm (9").<p>They are larger than LeConte's sparrow and do not exhibit orange coloration on their faces. They exhibit very similar coloration and patterning to Henslow's sparrow but do not have green coloration on their faces. The Savannah sparrow is more heavily streaked and has an extra white marking on its head.
Taxonomy
The Baird's sparrow was first described in North Dakota in 1843 by John James Audubon, and another record of this species was not made for 29 years following its discovery. It was named after the American naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird.
- Scientific name
- Centronyx bairdii
- Authority
- (Audubon, 1844)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Genus
- Centronyx
Range and habitat
The Baird's sparrow migrates from its summer breeding habitat, the tall grass prairies of north central United States and South Central Canada, to spend winters in northern Mexico and the southern tip of the United States near Texas. Due to this migratory behavior, they may be spotted all across the Midwest portion of the United States during migratory seasons, but most frequently can be found in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Canada during the summer.<p>This species of sparrow resides in grassland habitats. These birds rely on the (now diminishing) tallgrass prairies, mixed grass prairies, and moister fescue prairies of northern United States and southern Canada. The dwindling status of this habitat puts many animals whose lifestyles rely on these ecosystems in peril. Land featuring woody vegetation and cultivated land is generally not a suitable environment for Baird's sparrows to thrive in.
- Breeding range
- NA : sc Canada and nc USA
- Non-breeding range
- to n Mexico
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
There is some concern about the conservation status of Baird's sparrows; their numbers are reduced compared to historic numbers. This species is listed under the IUCN Red List under the category of "least concern". Maintaining the original habitat is important for this species because artificial habitat recreation is not suitable for these birds. Fragmentation can lead to adverse conditions for Baird's sparrows, including increased nest parasitism.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Golden-crowned Warbler
Basileuterus culicivorus
Small, rather active warbler of tropical evergreen and semi-deciduous forest in foothills and lowlands. Often in pairs at low to middle levels in shady forests with fairly open understory. Regularly seen with mixed-species feeding flocks. Like other tropical warblers, sexes look alike: overall grayish above and yellowish below with weak blackish head stripes that border a dull and easily overlooked golden or dull orangish central crown stripe.
Chatham Islands Gerygone
Gerygone albofrontata
Small warbler endemic to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand. Note dull olive-brown upperparts and white to yellowish plumage below. Distinctive red eye. Males are larger and have a white forehead, eyebrows, chest, and belly. Females have more subtle coloring. Juveniles have brown eyes and a noticeable yellowish tinge to their underparts. Confined to southern forests and scrub. Forages for insects from tree trunks and leaves. Will come to the ground to forage, often in small family flocks. Listen for loud male song, a repeated 4-note phrase “chi-ch-ch-ch.” Some nests are parasitized by larger Shining Bronze-Cuckoo. Distinguishable from Silvereye by lack of distinctive white eye-ring.
Brown Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta
Smallish honeyeater with a curved black bill. Grayish overall, with yellowish panels in the wings and tail, and a dark smudge around the eye. Also note bright yellow speckle behind the eye if seen well. In areas of overlap, juvenile Brown Honeyeaters are regularly confused with Dusky Honeyeaters (which are a darker sooty-brown and lack the yellow wing panel). Social and noisy, moving in active flocks. Found in a wide variety of habitats, including mangroves, forests, parks/gardens, and arid inland areas. Very vocal with a wide variety of chattering calls.
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