Baird's sparrow Ammodramus bairdii

Identification Tips:

• Length: 4.5 inches
• Large, conical bill
• Large, flat head
• Short, forked tail
• Dull yellow face, crown patch and nape
• White throat with two dark streaks at side
• Brown upperparts with dark streaks
• White underparts with dark streaks on breast and sides
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile plumage (Summer, sometimes Fall) buffier below and scalier above
• Found in open fields
• Forages on the ground

Similar species:

The Baird's Sparrow can be told from the similarly-shaped juvenile Grasshopper Sparrow by its yellowish crown stripe and dark streaks at the side of the throat. Vesper and Song Sparrows have rounder heads and longer tails and also lack the yellowish face. Savannah Sparrow has a smaller head and bill, more extensive streaking below and yellow on the face confined to the supercilium. Henslow's Sparrow has an olive face.

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