Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis

Identification Tips:

• Length: 4.75 inches
• Conical bill
• Short, forked tail
• Yellow to whitish supercilium
• Thin, white central crown stripe
• Brown upperparts ( varies from dark brown to gray-brown) with dark streaks
• White underparts with dark streaks
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile plumage (Summer) somewhat darker
• Found in open fields with fairly short vegetation
• Forages on the ground
• Variation in plumage and size across its range

Similar species:

In its open country habitat, the Savannah Sparrow is most similar to Vesper and Song Sparrows. It can be told from both by its yellowish supercilium, white central crown stripe and short tail. Baird's and juvenile Grasshopper Sparrow are larger-headed and billed. When flushed, the Savannah Sparrow tends to fly fairly high to its next perch whereas Song Sparrows fly low and pump their tails, Vesper Sparrows often show considerable white in the tail and Grasshopper Sparrows fly very low.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.