This little grassland sparrow shows much variation across the continent. In all plumages, look for the short notched tail, heavily streaked breast (often with a central spot), and pink legs and feet. Most subspecies have a distinctive yellow spot above the lores. The color of the upperparts ranges from pale gray-brown to dark brown, with dark and light streaks. The underparts are white, with dark streaks across the breast and down the sides. Some populations have a buffy wash on the breast and sides. The head is strongly patterned, with a dark crown (with an indistinct pale median stripe), pale supercilium, dark eye line, and dark moustachial and malar stripes surrounding a whitish submustachial stripe. Ipswich Sparrow, which breeds on Sable Island, Nova Scotia and winters in dunes along the Atlantic Coast, is paler overall with light streaking. Large-billed Savannah Sparrow, of Southern California salt marshes, is less streaked on the upperparts and has a significantly larger bill than other subspecies.

Length: 11 (cm) Wingspan: 20 (cm)

Voice:

Song is a series of buzzes: tsit-t-t-teeeeeeeeeeeeee-teeo.

Habitat:

Grasslands, agricultural fields, marshes, tundra, coasts.

Behavior:

Unlike most grassland sparrows, Savannah Sparrow has a direct flight and will often fly to an exposed perch when disturbed.

Feeding:

Forages on or near the ground for seeds and invertebrates.