Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 4.75 inches

• Conical bill

• Short, forked tail

• Yellow to whitish supercilium

• Thin, white central crown stripe

• Brown upperparts ( varies from dark brown to gray-brown) with dark      streaks

• White underparts with dark streaks

• Sexes similar

• Juvenile plumage (summer) somewhat darker

• Found in open fields with fairly short vegetation

• Forages on the ground

• Variation in plumage and size across its range

Similar species:

In its open country habitat, the Savannah sparrow is most similar to
vesper and song sparrows. It can be told from both by its yellowish
supercilium, white central crown stripe and short tail. Baird's and
juvenile grasshopper sparrow are larger-headed and billed. When
flushed, the Savannah sparrow tends to fly fairly high to its next
perch whereas song sparrows fly low and pump their tails, vesper
sparrows often show considerable white in the tail and grasshopper
sparrows fly very low.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: Grassland
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 3-6
Length of Incubation: (10-)12-13 days
Days to Fledge: 7-10(-14?)
Number of Broods: 2, 1 in far north
Diet: Mostly seeds; lesser quantities of insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May C
      Su - Summer: June, July, August R
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February C

 

 

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