This month let’s learn about a species in the sparrow family called the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). Song Sparrows are both common and year-round residents in the Sacramento Valley. In contrast, other populations that nest in colder climates further north may migrate south for the winter. Song Sparrows do not form large flocks and are frequently seen alone (or in pairs during the nesting season). However, juveniles sometimes form small groups and migrating birds either travel alone or in small flocks.

Song Sparrows vary regionally in size, song, and color. There are many subspecies of the Song Sparrow. Birds of the individual subspecies can look quite different from one another. This is called local adaptation. Studies suggest that Song Sparrows benefit from these geological differences. Here are 3 examples. Subspecies that live in colder regions tend to have larger bodies. Larger birds experience less heat loss compared to smaller birds. Subspecies living in desert habitats tend to be paler in coloration. Their light color may make it less likely for them to be noticed by hawks in an open habitat. Birds living in wet and humid coastal locations tend be darker. There is a larger amount of a pigment called melanin found in darker feathers. Besides making feathers dark, a high melanin concentration also makes feathers stronger and may offer some degree of protection from the damage caused by feather mites (which are common near coastal locations). In summary, scientists feel that regional morphological differences are not just random variation.

What do Song Sparrows look like?

The Song Sparrow is one of the first birds one should suspect in the Sacramento Valley when there’s a streaky sparrow perched and singing on the top of a bush near a water source. Since this is a very diverse species that has many subspecies, this article will focus on the plumage (or feather color) of Song Sparrows found this area.

The Song Sparrow is described as a bulky or stocky sparrow approximately 6 inches in length. They are mostly gray and russet-brown birds. They have whitish breasts and flanks that are heavily streaked with brown, short thick bills, thick dark brown splotches or streaks on their upper side, reddish-brown crowns except for a central thin gray stripe, pale bellies, reddish-brown wings and tails, broad gray eyebrows, dark brown stripes running laterally behind their eyes, whitish eye rings, a dark brown and broad streak that begins under their bills and runs down each side of their throats (the malar area), and another light colored streak above the dark malar streak (in the moustachial region). As wish many species of sparrows, there’s often a central dark blotch or spot on their breasts where their streaks merge together. Juveniles are paler overall compared to adult birds. They can lack the central breast spot and have less noticeable facial stripes.

Where do Song Sparrows live or nest?

Song Sparrows have an extensive range across North America and are found in all 50 U.S. states as well as in Canada and Mexico. Their habitats vary greatly over their wide range. Song Sparrows are often seen near water and in riparian habitats, woodland edges, desert scrub, brushy fields, coastal shorelines, stream sides, fresh and salt water wetlands, open forests, arctic grasslands, and also in urban and suburban neighborhood gardens that have a more lush vegetation. They are not adverse to building nests near humans and will tolerate other Song Sparrow pairs that nest nearby. Males only defend their immediate nesting territory.

Whereas a pair of Song Sparrows will search together for nest sites, females alone build the nests and incubate the eggs. Incubation takes place about 12-14 days. Their nests are often built on the ground in tall grasses or in marsh vegetation, such as reeds, about 4 feet above ground. However, Song Sparrow nests can sometimes be located higher inside trees or bushes; but are rarely in tree cavities. Their sturdy and cup-shaped nests are completed in approximately 4 days. The outside of the nest is constructed of grasses, leaves, weeds, and strips of bark and the inside is lined with rootlets, animal hair, and fine grass. Both parents help to feed the young. Nestlings fledge (or leave the nest) around 10-12 days after hatching and the fledglings usually stay close to their parents for another 3 weeks. Song Sparrows often lay 2 or more clutches per breeding season.

Many bird species solely rely on ‘an increasing day length’ to indicate when they should begin nesting. It has been discovered that Song Sparrows also use temperature as a gauge on when to begin nesting. They may start nesting earlier when the temperature warms to a desired point even before there’s a significant day length increase.

What do Song Sparrows eat?

Song Sparrows often forage (or hunt for food) on the ground but also seek food in bushes, trees, and occassionally in shallow water. They can exhibit a somewhat timid behavior while foraging, staying low, hiding in thickets, and seen only when flying from bush to bush.

There are two main factors that determine what’s on a Song Sparrow’s menu: the time of year and the bird’s habitat. In winter, Song Sparrows eat mostly weed or grass seeds or grains. They will visit backyard feeders if adequate cover is provided and enjoy millet and other seeds. In the warmer months, Song Sparrows continue to eat their staple of seeds and grains, but seek a more high-protein diet consisting of insects, invertebrates, and spiders. (It may be interesting to note that Song Sparrows are particularly fond of Wolf Spiders.) Besides spiders, they eat beetles, caterpillars, ants, wasps, flies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, earthworms, snails, and also small crustaceans when they live near coastal or marshy habitats. Their high-protein diet in the warmer months is necessary because they are working to build nests, produce eggs, and feed their nestlings and ensure their rapid growth. Song Sparrows also consume fruits, such as blackberries, raspberries, and cherries.

Like many other sparrow species, Song Sparrows sometimes use a very efficient technique to uncover food by disturbing the ground called the double-scratch technique. This is where they first hop forward with both feet and then kick the soil and leaves backwards. One source described this technique as the Song Sparrow samba!

What does the Song Sparrow sound like?

As their name implies, the calls and sweet songs of Song Sparrows are heard throughout the year. Some people have described their songs as: beautiful, melodic, somewhat complex, stuttering, clattering, and musical. Their songs usually begin with three or more loud, well-spaced single notes, followed by a long trill, and end with a few other notes or buzzes. The tempo is said to be somewhat like: Madge-Madge-Madge, put-on-your-tea-kettle-ettle-ettle. The flight call of Song Sparrows is a high-pitched and thin seeet. Their other calls are described as: a husky jimp, buzz, chirp, chip, or whistle.

Males frequently sing while perched and exposed on top of a bush or cattail, especially during nesting season. They often sing to attract a female or to defend their territory. Females also sing; but do so less often. Their songs are usually softer and shorter. When females sing, it usually happens just prior to their nest-building activities.

You can listen to some calls and songs of Song Sparrows below.