Swamp Sparrow
NameSwamp Sparrow
Common NameSwamp Sparrow
Scientific NameMelospiza georgiana
FamilyPasserellidae
Wingspan (cm)19
Length (cm)13.5
Weight (g)16
Plumage DetailsThis sparrow features rusty-brown wings with darker streaking, a streaked brown back, and a pale, unstreaked belly with buffy flanks. The head shows a dark eye-line, a yellowish wash on the face, and a streaked crown (often reddish-brown in breeding adults, but streaked black and olive/yellowish in non-breeding adults and immatures).
Vocalization / CallIts song is a rapid, mechanical-sounding trill of clear, ringing notes, often described as a series of 'chip-chip-chip' or 'sweet-sweet-sweet' repeated quickly.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across eastern and central North America, from central Canada south through the Great Lakes region and northeastern U.S. Winters primarily in the southeastern U.S. and along the Atlantic coast.
Identifying Featuresrusty wings, streaked back, dark eye-line, streaked or reddish-brown cap, preference for wet habitats, distinctive trilling song
Description
The Swamp Sparrow is a small, secretive sparrow typically found in dense wetland vegetation. It forages for insects and seeds on the ground or in low shrubs, often flicking its tail. Its distinctive trilling song is a common sound in its marshy habitats.
