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Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla

Field Sparrow - Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow Distribution Map - Bird Distribution generated from Montana Bird Distribution Database Field sparrow call - Copyright by Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, all rights reserved. Field Sparrow - Field Sparrow
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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4B

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 2
PIF: none



 

General Description
Adults sexually monomorphic. Crown and back rusty-brown, sides of head light gray. White eye-ring with rusty-brown streak behind eye and on ear coverts. Greater and middle wing coverts tipped with white forming two wing bands. Tail brown, feathers edged with pale gray. Underparts whitish to pale gray, unstreaked. Pinkish bill and legs are distinctive. Juveniles duller in color (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).

Distribution
Montana Range





Habitat
Generally in successional old fields, woodland openings and edges, roadsides and railroads near open fields of eastern United States and southern Canada. Does not breed close to human habitation (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).

Food Habits
Winter: small seeds, primarily grasses. Breeding season: small seeds, adult and larval insects (Judd 1901, Martin et al 1951). Forages on ground or low-lying vegetation primarily in open grassy or brushy fields (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).

Reproductive Characteristics
Most nests found in or within a short distance of shrubs or saplings. Nest and open cup. Eggs short subelliptical, smooth, white or creamy background, sometimes tinted very pale bluish or greenish, spotted. Clutch size ranges 3-5 eggs. First egg date in Missouri laid from 29 Apr - 10 Aug; earliest hatch 15 May. In Pennsylvania, first egg dates 4 May - 27 Jul; earliest chick hatch 20 May (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).

 
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