swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 5 inches

• Conical bill

• Rusty crown-solid in summer, streaked in winter

• Gray face and supercilium

• Black streak extends behind eye

• White throat with dark malar streak

• Black and buff streaked back

• Rusty wings

• Gray breast

• Buffy flanks with indistinct streaks

• Whitish belly

• Thin, rounded tail

• Sexes similar

• Face generally browner in winter

• Juvenile (summer) similar to adult but is buffier and streakier            underneath

Similar species:

The swamp sparrow is similar in size and habitat to the song and
Lincoln's sparrows but has rusty wings and lacks extensive dark
streaks across the breast. Other sparrows with rusty crowns are
paler underneath lacking buffy flanks, rusty wings or blurry streaks
on the flanks. Juvenile swamp sparrows are very similar to juvenile
Lincoln's and song sparrows.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: Wetland-open water
Nest Location: Ground-low nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 3-6
Length of Incubation: 12-15 days
Days to Fledge: 11-13
Number of Broods: 2
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
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February U

 

 

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