Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | Photos, Calls and ID

NTNear ThreatenedSeeds

ShrublandCup nestSmall · 36 g

Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula), photo 1 — Photo: Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago · CC0

Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula), photo 2 — Photo: Sam Kieschnick · CC BY 4.0

What the Harris's Sparrow sounds like

Sonogram of the Harris's Sparrow: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.

Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call, song · Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto

Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call, song · DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, Nebraska, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto

Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Dordt College Prairie, Sioux, Iowa, United States · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

This species is the largest of the sparrows in the family Passerellidae, though other superficially dissimilar species in the family may slightly exceed them in size. They range in total length from 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in), with a 27 cm (11 in) wingspan and weigh from 26 to 49 g (0.92 to 1.73 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 7.7 to 9.2 cm (3.0 to 3.6 in), the tail is 7.6 to 8.8 cm (3.0 to 3.5 in), the bill is 1.1 to 1.4 cm (0.43 to 0.55 in) and the tarsus is 2.2 to 2.5 cm (0.87 to 0.98 in). This is a very distinctive looking species.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Harris's Sparrow

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 8 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Harris's Sparrow

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 2 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.

United States Canada

Recorded as a rare visitor in Mexico.

About the Harris's Sparrow

Harris's sparrow is a large sparrow. Their breeding habitat is the north part of central Canada, making it Canada's only endemic breeding bird. In the winter they migrate to the Great Plains states of the United States, from southern South Dakota to central Texas. The common name of this species commemorates the American amateur ornithologist Edward Harris (1799–1863).

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Rufous-collared SparrowZonotrichia capensisThe rufous-collared sparrow is 13.5–15 cm (5+1⁄4–6 in) long and weighs 20–25 g (0.71–0.88 oz).

Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapillaMeasuring 15–18 cm (6–7 in) in length with a wingspan of 24.75 cm (9.74 in) and ranging from 19.0 to 35.4 g (0.67 to 1.25 oz) in mass, the adult golden-crowned sparrow is fairly large for an American sparrow.

White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysAdults have black and white stripes on their head, a gray face, brown streaked upper parts and a long tail.

Side by side: Golden-crowned Sparrow vs Harris's Sparrow · Harris's Sparrow vs Rufous-collared Sparrow · Harris's Sparrow vs White-crowned Sparrow

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