Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols
GrasslandDomed nestSmall · 18 g
What the Grasshopper Sparrow sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Grasshopper Sparrow
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 5 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Grasshopper Sparrow
The map shades 21 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in St. Pierre & Miquelon.
About the Grasshopper Sparrow
The grasshopper sparrow is a small New World sparrow. It belongs to the genus Ammodramus, which contains three species that inhabit grasslands and prairies. Grasshopper sparrows are sometimes found in crop fields and they will readily colonize reclaimed grassland. In the core of their range, grasshopper sparrows are dependent upon large areas of grassland where they avoid trees and shrubs. They seek out heterogenous patches of prairie that contain clumps of dead grass or other vegetation where they conceal their nest, and also contain barer ground where they forage for insects, spiders, and seeds.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Grassland SparrowAmmodramus humeralisThe grassland sparrow is a robust species with a large head and a short tail, with a total length of about 13 cm (5 in).
Yellow-browed SparrowAmmodramus aurifronsThe yellow-browed sparrow is a small American sparrow, measuring 13 cm (5 in) in length, with a mass between 14.5 and 19 g (0.5 and 0.7 oz).
Side by side: Black-throated Sparrow vs Grasshopper Sparrow · Grasshopper Sparrow vs Grassland Sparrow · Grasshopper Sparrow vs Yellow-browed Sparrow
Learn the Grasshopper Sparrow in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.