Nelson's Sparrow
NameNelson's Sparrow
Common NameNelson's Sparrow
Scientific NameAmmodramus nelsoni
FamilyPasserellidae
Wingspan (cm)18
Length (cm)13.5
Weight (g)16.5
Plumage DetailsFeatures a striking orange-buff face and breast, contrasting with a gray nape and crown streaked with black. The back is streaked brown and black, while the flanks are heavily streaked with dark brown on a white background.
Vocalization / CallIts song is a buzzy, unmusical 'tse-tse-tse-tzzzzzzzz' or 'tik-tuk-tzzzzzzzz,' often compared to the sound of a gas leak. Calls include a sharp 'chip.'
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across central Canada and the northern United States, with disjunct populations along the Atlantic coast. Winters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.
Identifying Featuresorange-buff face and breast, gray nape and crown with dark streaks, heavily streaked flanks, short tail, secretive behavior in dense marsh vegetation
Description
A small, secretive sparrow, Nelson's Sparrows are typically found in wet grasslands and salt marshes. They often forage on the ground or low in dense vegetation, characterized by their distinctive orange-buff face and heavily streaked flanks.
