Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows are found throughout North America, but with up to 30 different subspecies, this bird may look different wherever you travel. Visitors from other parts of the country often confuse the local Song Sparrows with Fox Sparrows, but Fox Sparrows are larger. With a little practice, you will learn to recognize Song Sparrows by their distinctive, and beautiful, call note.

by John Rakestraw

Resident birds of the Northwest are fairly large bulky sparrows with long rounded tails. The upperparts are dark to rusty brown with dark streaks over a gray background. The underparts are dull gray with broad blurry steaks of dark brown which sometimes form a dark spot on the breast. During the winter, you may see migrant Song Sparrows from other regions. These birds may be lighter in color, with finer streaking and whiter underparts.

Visitors from other parts of the country often confuse the local Song Sparrows with Fox Sparrows, but Fox Sparrows are even larger, have rows of chevrons along their sides, and lack the streaking on the head found on Song Sparrows.

Song Sparrow nests are open cups built on or near the ground in heavy cover provided by brush piles or shrubs. These birds will nest in flower beds or shrubbery next to houses.  The female does almost all of the nest building, although the male is usually close by. The clutch consists of 3-5 eggs, and the pair often produces two broods each year.

With a little practice, you will learn to recognize Song Sparrows by their distinctive call note. Their song, although variable, always begins with two or three introductory notes, followed by a jumble of notes and warbles.

Although common, Song Sparrows usually do not form large flocks like some other sparrows. They are often found singly or in small groups, often mixed in with flocks of other species, and often near water. Song Sparrows feed on or near the ground, and will readily come to bird feeders stocked with black oil sunflower or millet.