This sparrow of coastal salt marshes shows significant variation among the various subspecies. In all plumages, note the long bill, yellow area above the lores (supraloral), streaking on breast, sides and flanks, and short pointed tail. The throat is white, bordered by a dark malar stripe below a pale submoustachial stripe. Back color ranges from gray to olive-brown, with indistinct darker streaks. Wings are usually more brown than the back. Underparts are gray with indistinct streaks on Atlantic populations, buffy with clearer dark streaks on Gulf Coast populations, and white with crisp streaking on Southern Florida populations. The blackish Dusky Seaside Sparrow of Central Florida is extinct. Juveniles are buffier overall with fine streaking on the underparts.

Length: 13 (cm) Wingspan: 20 (cm)

Voice:

Song is a thin harsh onka-cheee-ur-eeeeeee.

Habitat:

Salt marsh with tall grasses.

Behavior:

Feeding:

Forages along shorelines and wrack lines for seeds, insects, mollusks, and aquatic invertebrates.