Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
One of the most common and widespread sparrows in North America. Fairly large with a long, rounded tail. Overall coarsely patterned with gray and brown, usually with more reddish-brown wings and tail. Look especially for thick brown streaks on the underparts and a broad dark mustache stripe. Significant variation in plumage geographically: relatively pale and rusty in the southwestern U.S.; blacker streaking in California; overall dusky in the Pacific Northwest. Larger, longer-tailed and usually more rusty than Savannah Sparrow. Found in a variety of scrubby habitats both near and far from human development, especially edges of fields, often near water. Listen for husky "chimp" calls and melodic song with chips and trills.
Identification
Adult song sparrows have brown upperparts with dark streaks on the back and are white underneath with dark streaking and a dark brown spot in the middle of the breast. They have a brown cap and a long brown rounded tail. Their face is gray with a brown streak through each eye. They are highly variable in size across numerous subspecies (for subspecies details, see below). The body length ranges from 11 to 18 cm (4.3 to 7.1 in) and wingspan can range from 18 to 25.4 cm (7.1 to 10.0 in). Body mass ranges from 11.9 to 53 g (0.42 to 1.87 oz). The average of all races is 32 g (1.1 oz) but the widespread nominate subspecies (M. m. melodia) weighs only about 22 g (0.78 oz) on average. The maximum lifespan in the wild is 11.3 years. The eggs of the song sparrow are brown with greenish-white spots. Females lay three to five eggs per clutch, with an average incubation time of 13–15 days before hatching.<p>In the field, they are most easily confused with the Lincoln's sparrow and the Savannah sparrow. The former can be recognized by its shorter, grayer tail and the differently-patterned head, the brown cheeks forming a clear-cut angular patch. The Savannah sparrow has a forked tail and yellowish flecks on the face when seen up close.
Taxonomy
Genus: Melospiza; Family: Passerellidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Melospiza melodia
- Authority
- (Wilson, A, 1810)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Genus
- Melospiza
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Yellow-vented Bulbul
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The most common urban bulbul in Southeast Asia, this attractive songster is a common sight in cities, parks, and plantations, as well as in open forests, edges, and secondary growth. Brown above and whitish below with a bright yellow vent and a thick black line between the bill and the eye. Front edge of the weak, slightly peaked crest is also dark. Gives rolling, variable song and bubbly multiple-note calls.
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Small, short-billed woodpecker with an olive-green back, a yellow nape, and a gray face. Heavily barred below and on the tail. Males have a red crown, green in females. Found in humid forests, forest edges, and second growth.
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