A small sparrow with olive-yellow face. Critically declined with prairie conversion. Specialized prairie species.

Also called: Henslow's

Native status: Native; near threatened

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 11–13 cm (4.3–5.1 in); wingspan 16–20 cm
Weight10–15 g
LifespanWild typically 3–5 years
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyPasserellidae

§ Encyclopedia

Henslow's sparrow is a North American passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It was named by John James Audubon in honor of John Stevens Henslow. It was originally classified in the genus Emberiza and called Henslow's bunting.

Source: Wikipedia — Henslow's sparrow Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Small flat-headed sparrow with olive-green face, large gray bill, and streaks below. Short tail.

Similar species. Grasshopper Sparrow (similar shape, plain breast, more buff). Le Conte's Sparrow (warmer colored). Saltmarsh Sparrow (orange face, marshes only).

Voice. Insect-like "tsi-lick" — among the least-impressive songs of any North American bird.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects (caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers) and seeds (mostly grass seeds).

Behavior. Declined 92% since 1966 — one of the steepest declines of any North American songbird. Native tallgrass prairie specialist; cannot tolerate dense thatch, woody invasion, or summer mowing. Spotty distribution across Midwest and mid-Atlantic; reclaimed strip-mine grasslands now hold some of the largest remaining populations.

§ Range

Eastern and central US in summer

§ Habitat

Tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies

§ Threats

Tallgrass prairie loss, hay-mowing during breeding, fire suppression.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the henslow's sparrow is currently classified as Near Threatened.

§ What helps

Support prairie restoration. Delay haying past August.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • American Bird Conservancy
  • Audubon Mid-Atlantic
  • IUCN Red List 2018