Swamp Sparrow Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Maine, June 13, 1962Recorded by Robert C. Stein | Macaulay Library
Song
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Manitoba, June 18, 1954Recorded by Arthur A. Allen | Macaulay Library
Song
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Pennsylvania, May 08, 1960Recorded by Robert C. Stein | Macaulay Library
Calls
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Minnesota, June 18, 1963Recorded by Robert C. Stein | Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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New Jersey, November 09, 2009Recorded by Paul Driver

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

In spring and summer, males sing a rich, liquid series of notes all on the same pitch. It’s essentially a slow trill, given to attract mates and mark territory. On rare occasions in early spring, a male delivers a flight song composed of halting, jumbled notes followed by its typical trill. Individual sparrows show slight variations in their songs, and there are distinct regional differences among populations’ songs as well.

Calls

The most common call note is a rich, sweet, resonant seet, given by both sexes. Males in conflict with other males also utter low, buzzy call notes. Females flushed from the nest might give a series of stuttering chip notes, and pairs sometimes give quiet, sibilant contact calls when apart.