Savannah Sparrow

The Savannah Sparrow is a small, streaky brown sparrow of open grassy habitats, showing crisp dark streaking on a white breast and flanks, a pale central crown stripe, and, in most populations, a small patch of yellow in front of and above the eye. The tail is notably short and slightly notched compared to many other sparrows.

Plumage varies somewhat across its many subspecies, ranging from pale and sandy in interior populations to darker and more heavily marked in coastal saltmarsh populations, but the overall streaky, ground-loving pattern is consistent throughout.

Key field marks

• Fine, crisp dark streaking on a whitish breast and flanks
• Small yellow patch above the lores (in front of the eye), variable in extent
• Short, notched tail
• Pink legs and a pale central crown stripe

Similar species

• Song Sparrow is larger, longer-tailed, and typically shows a heavier central breast spot, without the yellow lores.
• Vesper Sparrow is larger with a white eye-ring and white outer tail feathers, lacking the yellow face patch.
• Grasshopper Sparrow has an unstreaked, plain buffy breast, unlike the Savannah Sparrow's crisply streaked underparts.

Savannah Sparrows are widespread breeders across most of Canada, Alaska, and the northern and western United States, in open grasslands, hayfields, tundra, and coastal saltmarshes; a distinct saltmarsh-adapted population (the "Belding's" group) breeds along the California coast. Wintering birds spread across the southern US, Mexico, and Central America, using similar open, grassy, or marshy habitats.

The species is highly migratory across most of its range, though some coastal populations are resident, and it often occurs in loose flocks during migration and winter, sometimes mixed with other grassland sparrows.

Savannah Sparrows forage on the ground and in low grass, walking or running rather than hopping, and typically flush low over the grass for a short distance before dropping back down, often with a diagnostic buzzy flight call. They can be inconspicuous outside the breeding season, staying low and well hidden in dense grass.

The song is a thin, insect-like buzzy trill, typically starting with a few short introductory notes, "tsit-tsit-tsit-seeee-saaay," and delivered from a low perch such as a fence post or grass stem. Diet consists mainly of insects during the breeding season and seeds the rest of the year. Nests are well concealed cups placed on the ground in dense grass, with clutches of typically three to six eggs.