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Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: EMBERIZIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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A drab, but handsome bird of boggy areas, the Lincoln's Sparrow is best identified by the fine streaks on its buffy chest.

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Appearance

Sparrows
Sparrows
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Brown or grayish-brown overall.
  • Streaking on back, breast, and flanks.
  • Streaking on chest in band of creamy buff.
  • No spot in center of chest.

Immature Description

Immature similar to adult.

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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
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    Lincoln's Sparrow

    Adult
    • Buffy whisker (malar) stripe, finely streaked buffy chest
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Half Moon Bay, California, December 2005

Similar Species

  • Song Sparrow has spot in center of breast, lighter gray eyebrows, a white (not buff) upper breast, is more coarsely streaked, and pumps its tail up and down when flying.
  • Swamp Sparrow has blurry streaks on gray chest and reddish in its wings. Juvenile Lincoln's Sparrow closely resembles juvenile Swamp Sparrow, but crown of Lincoln's is usually streaked, while that of Swamp Sparrowis solid brown or black.