Bachman's sparrow
Aimophila aestivalis
Identification Tips:
- Conical bill with pale lower mandible
- Brown crown
- Pale face, lores and supercilium
- Brown streak extends behind eye
- Gray back and wings with brown streaks
- Underparts pale, darkest on breast
- Long, brown tail
- Birds from western part of range have much rustier upperparts
- Sexes similar
- Juvenile (Spring to Fall) buffier, streaked on breast
Similar species:
The Bachman's Sparrow is very similar to Botteri's and Cassin's Sparrows
but their ranges do not overlap. They have different songs and different
habitat preferences with the Bachman's Sparrow inhabiting open woods with a
grassy, shrubby understory and Cassin's and Botteri's preferring more open
habitats. Cassin's has barred central tail feathers and a few streaks on the
flanks.