Bird Guide

Song Sparrow vs Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

Small22 gShrubland

Adult song sparrows have brown upperparts with dark streaks on the back and are white underneath with dark streaking and a dark brown spot in the middle of the breast. They have a brown cap and a long brown rounded tail. Their face is gray with a brown streak through each eye. They are highly variable in size across numerous subspecies (for subspecies details, see below). The body length ranges from 11 to 18 cm (4.3 to 7.1 in) and wingspan can range from 18 to 25.4 cm (7.1 to 10.0 in). Body mass ranges from 11.9 to 53 g (0.42 to 1.87 oz). The average of all races is 32 g (1. Voice: The sparrow species derives its name from its colorful repertoire of songs. Enthusiasts report that one of the songs heard often in suburban locations closely resembles the opening four notes of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. The male uses a fairly complex song to declare ownership of its territory and attract females.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Ryan Douglas · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kalvin Chan · 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

Recording: Doug Hynes · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

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