Bird Guide

Grasshopper Sparrow vs Grassland Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Small18 gGrassland

These small sparrows measure 10–14 cm (3.9–5.5 in) in length, span about 17.5 cm (6.9 in) across the wings and weigh from 13.8 to 28.4 g (0.49 to 1.00 oz), with an average of 17 g (0.60 oz). Adults have upper parts streaked with brown, grey, black and white; they have a light brown breast, a white belly and a short brown tail. Their face is light brown with a white eye ring and a dark brown crown with a central narrow light stripe. Adults sport bright yellow feathers at the crook of their underwing, and have a yellow-to-amber patch above their lores.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Grasshopper Sparrow
Recorded by Peter Wilton · Call, song · Santa Teresa County Park (near San Jose), Santa Clara County, California, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ian bullock · CC BY 4.0
Grassland Sparrow (Ammodramus humeralis)

Grassland Sparrow

Ammodramus humeralis

Small16 gGrassland

The grassland sparrow is a robust species with a large head and a short tail, with a total length of about 13 cm (5 in). The wings are short and the legs fairly long. The upper parts are brownish-grey streaked with black. The breast and flanks are greyish-buff or pinkish-buff and the underparts are dull white. There is a narrow white eye-ring, and a spot of yellow on the lores and another on the bend of the wing. The song is a high-pitched but thin series of plaintive phrases, "eee, telee, teeeee".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: María Zeta · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Grasshopper Sparrow and Grassland Sparrow.