
This species shows tremendous variation across the continent, with taxonomists recognizing anywhere from 24 to 52 subspecies. In all plumages, note long rounded tail, streaked upperparts, streaks on underparts usually coalescing into a central spot, dark crown, grayish face with whitish or buffy malar stripe, dark eye stripe, and dark lateral throat stripe. On most races, the belly is whitish, with streaks ranging from pale rufous to brown to blackish. Northwest populations have dusky upper breasts with blurry brown streaks. Juveniles similar to adults, but with finer streaking on underparts.
Length: 15 (cm) Wingspan: 21 (cm)
Voice:
Song starts with two or three clear introductory notes, followed by a trill and several jumbled notes. Call is a loud nasal "jeep." Alarmed adults give a high thin "tseet" when their nest or young are threatened.
Habitat:
Open woodlands, woodland edge, riparian corridors, marshes, hedgerows.
Behavior:
Highly responsive to pishing; often the first species to pop into view.
Feeding:
Feeds primarily on insects during nesting season, supplemented by seeds and fruit at other times. Forages on the ground, in foliage, and in shallow water.
Field Notes

In March 2011 a Song Sparrow near Portland, Oregon, ended his song with a distinctive note that sounded very much like the call note of a Swainson's Thrush. Having heard them singing for decades this is the first time I have ever heard one give this note. Had it not been too early for Swainson's Thrush one could have easily mistaken it for one.
Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this occasionally, confident.
A Song Sparrow holding a territory in the redwoods in northern California in the mid-1990s was noted to put a "keer" call of Marbled Murrelet in its song. The bird lived at the edge of a forest over which murrelets flew, and called intensely, at dawn during the breeding season.
Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this occasionally, confident.
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
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Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
09/25/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/18/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/11/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/11/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/04/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
09/04/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/28/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/21/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/21/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/14/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/14/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/07/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/07/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Maya Mudd added Song Sparrow to their Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge smart list | 3/04/2012 at 9:16PM |
Mary Ratcliff added Song Sparrow to their Yard smart list | 1/16/2012 at 7:01PM |
Jacob Parks added Song Sparrow to their North Albina smart list | 11/02/2011 at 12:48AM |
David Fix added a note to Song Sparrow Notes | 7/02/2011 at 9:50PM |
Shawneen Finnegan added a note to Song Sparrow Notes | 4/02/2011 at 11:10PM |