Savannah Sparrow #1
by J McCombie
Title
Savannah Sparrow #1
Artist
J McCombie
Medium
Painting - Photographic
Description
Savannah Sparrow or Passerculus sandwichensis ... Not all streaky brown birds are impossible to identify: Take a closer look at this one and you'll see an understated but distinctive sparrow with a short tail, small head, and telltale yellow spot before the eye. Savannah Sparrows are one of the most numerous songbirds in North America, and while sometimes overlooked, are likely visitors across the continent. In summer, they don't hesitate to advertise their location, belting out a loud, insect-like song from farm fields and grasslands.
Savannah Sparrows are medium-sized sparrows with short, notched tails. The head appears small for the plump body, and the crown feathers often flare up to give the bird's head a small peak. The thick-based, seed-eating bill is small for a sparrow.
Savannah Sparrows are brown above and white below, with crisp streaks throughout. Their upperparts are brown with black streaks, and the underparts are white with thin brown or black streaks on the breast and flanks. Look for a small yellow patch on the face in front of the eye.
Savannah Sparrows eat seeds on or near the ground, alone or in small flocks. When flushed, they usually fly up, flare their short tails, and circle around to land some yards away. In spring and summer, males sing their dry, insect-like melodies from exposed, low perches such as fenceposts. Also, listen for a thin, high-pitched tsss call.
Savannah Sparrows breed in open areas with low vegetation, including most of northern North America from tundra to grassland, marsh, and farmland. Even in winter, you'll find Savannah Sparrows on the ground or in low vegetation in open areas; look for them along the edges of roads adjacent to farms.
Uploaded
February 13th, 2013
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