Song Sparrow Photo Gallery
Adult
Medium-sized sparrow with rounded head and long, rounded tail. Coarse streaks on breast converge into a central spot. Russet stripes on crown and through eye. Broad malar or mustache stripe.
© Jonathan Irons / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, October 25, 2018Adult
Song Sparrows in the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico have rusty streaking and are small and pale.
© Sean Fitzgerald / Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 09, 2018Adult (Eastern)
Songs vary regionally but usually begin with a few loud well-spaced chip notes followed by trills or buzzes.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, June 03, 2015Not all videos have soundAdult
Medium-sized sparrow with rounded head and long tail. Face is grayish with russet stripes on crown and through eye. Heavy streaks on breast.
© Cameron Eckert / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, March 16, 2017Adult
Song Sparrows from the Aleutian Islands are larger than other forms, with grayish bodies and heavy dark brown streaking.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 29, 2008Adult (California coast)
Songs vary regionally but usually begin with a few loud well-spaced chip notes followed by trills or buzzes.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 25, 2013Not all videos have soundAdult
Medium-sized sparrow with rounded head and long tail. Individuals on the California coast are darker and grayer overall, with heavy streaking.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryCaliforniaAdult
Medium-sized sparrow with long, rounded tail. Many individuals in the Pacific Northwest are dark brown and gray with heavy streaking on breast.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryWashington, October 24, 2014Adult (Eastern) and juveniles
Sometimes forages on the ground by hopping forward and scratching the leaf litter with both feet to uncover insects.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMaine, June 21, 2013Not all videos have soundAdult
Song Sparrows vary across North America. They typically have grayish faces and reddish brown markings that can be warm in color. Note thick, triangular mustache or malar stripe.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryWashington, December 28, 2010Juvenile
Juvenile is generally drabber and buffier than adult, with less distinct stripes on the head.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 19, 2019Adult (Eastern)
Diet consists mostly of insects during the summer, and switches to mostly seeds and fruits in the winter.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2004Not all videos have soundAdult
Medium-sized sparrow with long tail without a notch. Back is grayish streaked with brown; wings and tail are russet brown.
© Ian Hearn / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, May 13, 2017Habitat
One of the most widespread and common sparrows in North America. Found in brushy edges, often but not always near water.
© Ian Hearn / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, January 01, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
New World Sparrows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Passerellidae)
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