A streaky brown sparrow whose musical "maids maids maids put on your tea kettle kettle kettle" rings from yard hedges and marsh edges across the continent. Plumage varies dramatically by region (39 subspecies).
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The song sparrow is a medium-sized New World sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant, variable, and adaptable species.
Source: Wikipedia — Song sparrow Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Heavily streaked brown sparrow with a long rounded tail, broad grayish eyebrow, dark malar stripes, and streaks converging into a central breast spot.
Similar species. Savannah Sparrow has a shorter notched tail and yellow lores; Lincoln's Sparrow has finer streaking on a buffy breast band.
Voice. Starts with 2–4 clear repeated notes then a buzzy jumble of trills: 'maids-maids-maids put-on-your-tea-kettle'.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Seeds (primary), insects (especially during breeding).
Behavior. One of the most widespread and familiar sparrows; pumps its long rounded tail in flight and sings persistently from low perches. Extremely variable geographically.
§ Range
Throughout North America; year-round across most of the US
§ Habitat
Wet brushy thickets, marshes, suburban yards with shrubs
§ Threats
Brushy habitat loss to mowing, cat predation, cowbird parasitism.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the song sparrow is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain native brush thickets. Keep cats indoors. Tolerate "messy" yard corners — sparrows love them.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Song sparrow
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Melospiza melodia
- IUCN Red List — search for Melospiza melodia
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Melospiza melodia
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
