Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana
The Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) is a common new world sparrow found in 7 countries, weighing about 16 g. The swamp sparrow is a medium-sized New World sparrow related to the song sparrow.
About the Swamp Sparrow
The swamp sparrow is a medium-sized New World sparrow related to the song sparrow.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Swamp Sparrow sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Costa Rica.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Swamp Sparrow?
- 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Swamp Sparrow?
- The Swamp Sparrow is a small sized bird weighing about 16 g.
- Where can you see a Swamp Sparrow?
- The Swamp Sparrow occurs in 7 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, St. Pierre & Miquelon and Bermuda.
- What does a Swamp Sparrow sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Swamp Sparrow on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Swamp Sparrow?
- The Swamp Sparrow is most easily confused with the Lincoln's Sparrow and the Song Sparrow.
- Is the Swamp Sparrow endangered?
- The Swamp Sparrow is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Swamp Sparrow for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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