Song Sparrow
The Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a widespread familiar sparrow native to North America. In the northern half of the United States (except for the Dakotas and the Great Lakes where it breeds only) this Sparrow is a year-round resident; in the southern half of the country it winters. Two keys to the Song Sparrow's success have been its undiscriminating approach to breeding habitat (from riparian lowlands to suburbia to mountain slopes), and its modest territorial requirement (eight pairs have nested on a single acre). There is substantial geographic variation in the size and plumage of Song Sparrows--larger birds tend to be in the north, paler birds in drier climates. Although the bird's songs also vary, they follow a common pattern of three clear introductory notes on a single pitch followed by a jumble of notes and a trill at lower pitch, sung with gusto. See all Song Sparrow photosField Marks:The Song Sparrow has brown streaking on its breast, flanks, and back, a central brown breast spot, broad "malar" marks lateral to its throat, and a long tail (L 6.25 in.)) Distribution:The Song Sparrow is a year-round resident year from Vermont to Georgia and from the Aleutian Islands to the Baja. In the Dakotas, the Great Lakes region and Canada the Song Sparrow is only a breeding bird. It winters in the southern U.S. and northern Mexico. Similar Species:
Habitat & Nesting:The Song Sparrow nests mostly on the ground in dense deciduous thickets. Towhee populations, especially in the Northeast, have declined significantly since 1966, probably because of the combined impacts of habitat loss through urbanization and nest predation from cats and raccoons. More Information:The Song Sparrow has a distinctive habit of exposing insect and vegetable food hidden under leaf litter on the ground by using a two-stroke, forward-and-back, hop-and-scratch movement with both feet. The Song Sparrow interbreeds with the Spotted Towhee, and the species classification is perennially debated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
