grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 4.5 inches

• Large, conical bill

• Large, flat head

• Short tail

• Buffy face and breast

• White belly and undertail coverts

• Buffy supercilium

• Narrow, whitish crown stripe

• Gray and brown streaks on nape, wing coverts and rump

• Black and white streaking on back

• Sexes similar

• Juvenile plumage (summer, sometimes fall) similar to adult but has              fine streaks on breast

• Some variation in plumage across range with Florida birds being some-      what darker and Arizona birds having indistinct brownish streaks on           sides of breast

• Found in open fields

• Forages on the ground

Similar species:

The Baird's sparrow is similar in shape to the grasshopper sparrow but
has streaks across the breast. Juvenile grasshopper sparrows have streak-

ed breasts and can be separated by their whitish, not yellow, crown

stripe and lack of dark streaks on the side of the throat. Henslow's spar-

row has olive face and rusty wings. LeConte's sparrow has different face

pattern. Other sparrows likely to be found in field habitats have longer

tails and smaller heads as well as different markings (song, vesper, Savan-

nah, field, for example).

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Neotropical migrant
Breeding Habitat: Grassland
Nest Location:Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 3-6
Length of Incubation: 11-12 days
Days to Fledge: 9
Number of Broods: 2, 3? in Florida
Diet: Mostly insects, seeds

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August U
      Fall: September, October, November R

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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