Saltmarsh Sparrow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSaltmarsh Sparrow
Adult
Small, flat-headed sparrow with a round belly. Key field marks include orangish eyebrow and mustache, buffy breast with streaking that gently fades towards the belly.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, June 10, 2017Adult
Flat-headed sparrow with a relatively long bill. The eyebrow and mustache stripes are orangish. The flanks are streaked brown.
© Derek Rogers / Macaulay LibraryNew York, October 15, 2016Adult
Found in tidal saltwater marshes with extensive reeds and grasses. Runs or walks along the ground dipping in and out of grasses.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 24, 2015Not all videos have sound
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 27, 2017
© Derek Rogers / Macaulay LibraryNew York, October 22, 2017
Juvenile
Juveniles are heavily streaked below and have a ghosting of the adult's facial pattern.
© Jonathan Eckerson / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 18, 2017© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 15, 2012
Adult
Small, flat-headed sparrow with a round belly. Key field marks include orangish eyebrow and mustache, buffy breast with streaking that gently fades towards the belly.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, July 05, 2014© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, September 27, 2017
© Samuel Paul Galick / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 22, 2018
Habitat
Breeds in tidal saltmarshes where it can be difficult to see.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, June 10, 2017Similar SpeciesNelson's Sparrow
Adult
Nelson's Sparrows have a shorter bill and fainter streaking on the chest than Saltmarsh Sparrows.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 01, 2014Similar SpeciesLeConte's Sparrow
Adult
Has a streaked nape while Saltmarsh Sparrow has an unstreaked gray nape. LeConte's also has a white crown stripe that Saltmarsh Sparrow lacks.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryMississippi, December 24, 2007Similar SpeciesGrasshopper Sparrow
Adult
Grasshopper Sparrows are paler overall and have an unstreaked chest unlike Saltmarsh Sparrows.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, June 08, 2011Similar SpeciesSeaside Sparrow
Adult (Atlantic)
Darker gray overall with a yellow spot in front of the eye that Saltmarsh Sparrows lack.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 28, 2012Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
New World Sparrows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Passerellidae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.