Bird Guide

Lincoln's Sparrow vs Swamp Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Small17 gWetland

Adults have dark-streaked olive-brown upperparts and a light brown breast with fine streaks, a white belly, and a white throat. They have a brown cap with a grey stripe in the middle, olive-brown wings, and a narrow tail. Their face is grey with brown cheeks, a buffy mustache, and a brown line through the eye with a narrow eye ring. Males and females are alike in plumage. They are somewhat similar in appearance to the song sparrow although smaller and trimmer with finer breast streaks. Voice: Lincoln's sparrow is a very secretive species; they are often not seen or heard even where they are common. Only the males are known to sing and their song is unique among the Melospiza genus. They produce a sweet, wrenlike, gurgling song with varied frequencies.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Lincoln's Sparrow
Recorded by Doug Hynes · Song · Terra Nova (Village), Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: TRinaud · CC BY 4.0
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Swamp Sparrow

Melospiza georgiana

Small16 gWetland

Measurements: Length: 4.7–5.9 in (12–15 cm) Weight: 0.5–0.8 oz (15–23 g) Wingspan: 7.1–7.5 in (18–19 cm) Adults have streaked rusty, buff and black upperparts with an unstreaked gray breast, light belly and a white throat. The wings are strikingly rusty. Most males and a few females have rust-colored caps. Their face is gray with a dark line through the eye. They have a short bill and fairly long legs. Immature birds and winter adults usually have two brown crown stripes and much of the gray is replaced with buff. Voice: The song of the swamp sparrow is a monotone trill, slower than that of the chipping sparrow. A male can have a repertoire of several different trills. The common call note is a loud chip reminiscent of a phoebe.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Swamp Sparrow
Recorded by Doug Hynes · Song · South River, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: geosesarma · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Lincoln's Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow.