Sparrows and Buntings

There are about 50 species of emberizid sparrows and their allies that breed regularly in North America. Some of the more widespread of these are briefly described below.

The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is one of the most widespread of the sparrows, breeding over much of Canada and the United States, and as far south as Mexico. The usual habitat of this abundant bird is shrubby, commonly beside lakes, rivers, or streams, along forest edges, in regenerating burns or cut-overs, and in parks and gardens. This species has a dark-brown plumage, with a dark spot in the middle of its streaky breast.

Lincoln's sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) is a similar-looking, close relative of the song sparrow, but is muchless familiar to most people because of its habit of skulking unseen within dense vegetation. This species breeds extensively in Canada and the western mountains of the United States. The swamp sparrow (M. georgiana) is similar to the previous two species, but breeds in shrubby wetlands beside lakes, rivers, and streams, and in more-extensive marshes. This species breeds widely in eastern Canada and the northeastern states, and winters in the eastern United States.

The fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is a relatively large, heavily streaked bird that breeds in thickets, regenerating burns and cutovers, and open forests. The fox sparrow occurs in the boreal and montane zones, and ranges as far south as central Utah, Colorado, and Nevada.

The savanna sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is a very widespread species, breeding in suitably open, grassy habitats over all of Canada and much of the United States. This species mostly winters in the southern United States and parts of Central America. The savanna sparrow is a heavily streaked, brownish bird with distinctive, light-yellow patches over the eyes. The Ipswich sparrow (P. sandwichensis princeps) is a large, light-colored subspecies that breeds only in dune-grass habitats on Sable Island in the western Atlantic Ocean, and winters along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. The Ipswich sparrow is sometimes treated as a distinct species (P. princeps).

The white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) breeds over much of temperate and boreal Canada and New England. The usual habitat of this species is brushy, and includes open forests, forest edges, regenerating burns and cutovers, and abandoned farmland. The territorial song of this abundant species consists of a series of loud, clear whistles, and is one of the most familiar sounds of the springtime in woodlands within its range. Birdwatchers in the United States learn the very distinctive song of the white-throated sparrow as: "old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody," but Canadians memorize it as: "I-love Canada, Canada, Canada." The head of the white-throated sparrow is prominently marked with light-shaded stripes, which can be colored either bright-white or tan. Individuals with white stripes are relatively aggressive in the defense of their territory, and in their general interactions with others of their species. Consequently, a hyperaggressive male "white-stripe" can mate successfully with a relatively submissive female "tanstripe," but not with a female white-stripe, because the two would fight too much.

The white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) breeds widely in boreal and montane coniferous forests across Canada and the western United States, and winters in the southern States. The golden-crowned sparrow (Z. atricapilla) is a closely related species, breeding in coastal, coniferous rainforests of western Alaska and British Columbia, and wintering in the coastal, western United States.

The chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) breeds in open, treed habitats from the boreal region through to Nicaragua in Central America, and winters in the southern United States and further south. This common species has a rufous cap, a bright-white line through the eye, and a whitish, unstreaked breast. The American tree sparrow (S. arborea) breeds in shrubby habitats and open forests throughout most of the northern boreal forest. Tree sparrows winter in large flocks in fields and brushy habitats throughout central North America. The clay-colored sparrow (S. pallida) breeds in shrubby meadows, riparian habitats, and forest edges of the prairie region of North America, and winters in Texas and Mexico.

The vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) breeds in natural prairies, and in weedy fields and pastures throughout north-temperate regions of North America.

The larksparrow (Chondestes grammacus) breeds in open, dry habitats with scattered trees, including native prairies and abandoned agricultural lands. Lark sparrows occur over most of the central and western United States. These birds have bright, chestnut-and-white patterns on their head.

The black-throated or desert sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) occurs in arid habitats in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species has a A song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. Photograph by Robert J. Huffman. Field Mark Publications. Reproduced by permission.
grey back, a black breast, and black-and-white stripes on the face. The closely related sage sparrow (A. belli) breeds in dry, shrubby habitats of the western states.

The grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) breeds in drier prairies, hayfields, and old-fields in central regions of the continent. LeConte's sparrow (A. leconteii) breeds in tall, moist, grassy and sedge meadows in the prairies, and winters in the southeastern states. The sharp-tailed sparrow (A. caudacuta) breeds in salt marshes along the Atlantic and Hudson Bay seacoasts, and in brackish wet meadows in the prairies.

The dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) breeds in recently disturbed coniferous forests throughout Canada and much of the western United States. This species winters in weedy fields and brushy habitats throughout the United States. The dark-eyed junco has a grey head and breast, and depending on the subspecies, either a grey or a brownish back and wings.

The lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) breeds in shortgrass prairies and semi-deserts from southern Alberta to northern Texas. Males have a black body with large, white wing-patches, while females look like moretypical sparrows, with a streaky brown plumage.

The towhees are relatively large, long-tailed, ground-feeding species of shrubby habitats. The rufous-sided towhee (Piplio erythrophthalmus) breeds in thick, brushy habitats through southern Canada and the United States, and as far south as Guatemala in Central America. Males have a black back, rufous sides, and a white belly, while females have a brown back, both sexes usually have brilliant-red eyes. The rufous-sided towhee is named after one of its call notes, which sounds like "tow-whee," and this bird also has a loud, easily recognizable song that sounds like: "drink-your-teeeea." The green-tailed towhee (P. chlorurus) breeds in brushy habitats in the western United States, while the brown towhee (P. fuscus) occurs in shrubby habitats in the southwest, including suburban gardens and parks.

The Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) breeds throughout the northern tundra of North America, and also in northern Europe and Asia, where it is known as the Lapland bunting. This species winters in native prairies and agricultural landscapes to the south of its breeding range. The very attractive, breeding plumage of the males includes a jet-black face and bib, and a bright-chestnut back of the head, but the non-breeding plumage is much more subdued. The McCown's longspur (C. mccownii) breeds in the short-grass prairies of North America, and winters to the south in Texas and Mexico. The chestnut-collared longspur (C. ornatus) has a similar distribution.

The snow bunting, snowflake, or snowbird (Plectrophenax nivalis) breeds throughout the arctic tundra of North America, and also in arctic regions of Europe and Asia. The snow bunting winters widely in temperate regions of North America, sometimes occurring in large flocks in snow-covered agricultural areas and coastal dunes. The male snow bunting has an attractive, highly contrasting, black-and-white plumage, with the head and breast being a bright white, and the wings and back a jet black. Females have a more subdued, light-brownish coloration. Because it tends to appear just as the snow starts to fly, the snow bunting is a familiar harbinger of winter for people in its southern, non-breeding range. However, for people living in small communities in the tundra of northern Canada, returning snow buntings are a welcome herald of the coming springtime, following a long, hard winter. The closely related McKay's bunting (P. hyperboreus) breeds on several islands in the Bering Sea, and winters in coastal, western Alaska.