Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 4.3–5.1 in
11–13 cm - Wingspan
- 7.9 in
20 cm - Weight
- 0.4–0.5 oz
10–15 g
Other Names
- Bruant de Henslow (French)
Cool Facts
- The Henslow's Sparrow sings most actively at dawn and dusk, but sometimes sings all night long.
- The Henslow's Sparrow takes flight only with great reluctance, preferring to flee from threats by running through the grass.
- Henslow's Sparrow was named by John James Audubon in honor of John Stevens Henslow, a botanist, minister, good friend of Audubon, and teacher of Charles Darwin.
- Originally the distribution of Henslow's Sparrow was concentrated in two areas: the central prairies of the United States and the coastal marshes of the Atlantic Coast. As the forests in the intervening states were cut down, the Henslow's Sparrow moved into the newly created grasslands, connecting the two centers of distribution. It has largely disappeared from coastal marshes.
Habitat
Grassland
Large, flat fields with no woody plants, and with tall, dense grass, a dense litter layer, and standing dead vegetation.
Food
Insects
Insects, mostly grasshoppers and beetles.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–5 eggs
- Egg Description
- Glossy white, with speckles and blotches.
- Condition at Hatching
- Eyes closed, covered with brownish-gray down.
Nest Description
An open bowl of loosely woven dry grasses, placed in layer of grass litter just off the ground.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Ground Forager
Not widely observed; probably feeds on the ground.
Conservation
Near Threatened
Declining in the northeastern portion of its range, and apparently increasing in some other parts, the Henslow's Sparrow has been identified as the highest priority for grassland bird conservation in eastern and midwestern North America by Partners in Flight (PIF), a cooperative effort of many organizations dedicated to bird conservation. Henslow's Sparrow does not have federally protected status in the United States, but is listed as Endangered in seven states, as well as Canada. PIF is promoting establishment of large grassland conservation areas for this and other species. The Conservation Reserve Program, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that assists farmers in setting aside qualifying land for conservation, has apparently successfully contributed to local population increases in isolated cases.
Credits
- Herkert, J. R., P. D. Vickery, and D. E. Kroodsma. 2002. Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii).In The Birds of North America, No. 672 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.