Montana Field Guide

Stout and stocky. Resembles the native North American sparrow but with shorter legs and thicker bill. Back brown with black streaking, male with gray crown, chestnut bordering crown and on nape; cheek white, black bib. Female with gray-brown crown and postocular line, pale buff supercilium, unmarked throat and breast. Wings pointed. Tail is 3/4 of the length of the wing. (Lowther, Peter E. and Cink, Clavin L. The Birds of North America, No.12, 1992).

Breeding habitat is mostly associated with human modified environments such as farms, and residential and urban areas. Absent from extensive woodlands, forests, grasslands, and deserts. During postbreeding flocking, birds move into areas farther from breeding areas (e.g. grain fields rather than farmsteads). Winter habitat is the same as breeding habitat. (Lowther and Cink 1992).

Have been known to eat livestock feed. Grains, weed seeds, relatively few insects. Urban birds eat commercial birdseed. (Lowther and Cink 1992).

This species did not occupy all of Montana until sometime between 1898 and 1908.

Nest often in enclosed spaces. If they nest in trees the nest usually is a globular structure with a side entrance and may share a wall with a neighboring nest. Successful birds may have up to 4 clutches per season. Clutch size varies from 1 - 8 eggs. (Lowther and Cink 1992). Young have been reported in the nest on July 4 in Gallatin County. Nesting typically begins in early April and may last to mid-September.