Song Sparrow

The song sparrow is one of the most melodious birds I’ve ever heard!

Latin name: Melospiza melodia

Length, wingspan: 6.25″, 8.25″

What they eat: Insects, seeds and berries

Habitat: Open woodlands, grasslands, edges of forests, and even suburban settings.

Plants that attract: Open areas, nearby forests, shrubs

Where they nest: Grassy areas

My observations: One of the easiest ways to identify the song sparrow is to look for the small splash of brown in the middle of their breast. The photos of the song sparrow on this page are of what I call “my little buddy.” Every single day, from winter (see video below) through summer, he is singing his heart out! I typically see (and hear) him in the top of an ornamental cherry tree outside my office window, and he’s one of the cheeriest birds I’ve ever observed!

We are hoping his beautiful singing has attracted a mate because he certainly deserves one. An interesting fact is that most song sparrows are monogamous but about 20 percent will have more than one mate. This bird usually takes a break from his singing to stop by our bird feeders, grabs a seed, and then gets right back to work. Truly an enjoyable bird to watch and listen to.

Here is a video I captured last winter of a male song sparrow singing during a snowstorm! This is a great way to recognize their call, no matter what time of year.

For more details about this bird, go to Cornell’s All About Birds website.

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