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Grasshopper Sparrow

A species of Grassland sparrows
Scientific name : Ammodramus savannarum Genus : Grassland sparrows

Grasshopper Sparrow, A species of Grassland sparrows
Botanical name: Ammodramus savannarum
Genus: Grassland sparrows
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) Photo By Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren , used under CC-BY-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

These small sparrows measure 10–14 cm (3.9–5.5 in) in length, span about 17.5 cm (6.9 in) across the wings and weigh from 13.8 to 28.4 g (0.49 to 1.00 oz), with an average of 17 g (0.60 oz). Adults have upperparts streaked with brown, grey, black and white; they have a light brown breast, a white belly and a short brown tail. Their face is light brown with an eye ring and a dark brown crown with a central narrow light stripe. There are regional variations in the appearance of this bird.
Size
11 - 14 cm
Colors
Brown
Black
Bronze
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
7.1 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Clutch Size
3 - 7 eggs
Incubation Period
2 - 4 broods
Number of Broods
11 - 13 days
Nestling Period
6 - 9 days
Feeding Habits
Grasshopper Sparrow's diet varies seasonally, consuming primarily insects like grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, bugs, and spiders in summer. In winter, grasshopper Sparrow shifts to a diet mainly composed of seeds, which are foraged exclusively from exposed bare ground.
Habitat
Grasshopper Sparrow is typically found in expansive, open habitats such as grasslands, prairies, savannas, and hayfields. Preferential conditions include low vegetation with pockets of bare ground at a variety of altitudes, but mainly within temperate to tropical regions. They thrive in areas with minimal scrub or brushy vegetation, though those in the western range may inhabit slightly brushier environments. During winter, grasshopper Sparrow favors grass-dominant fields that offer adequate ground cover and food resources.
Nest Behavior
The grasshopper Sparrow constructs its nest during spring and early summer. It lays a clutch of 3-5 eggs, with both parents participating in incubating and rearing the chicks until they fledge.
Nest Characteristics
Grasshopper Sparrow's nest is typically grounded at the base of grass clumps, tucked in tall grass or sedge patches. It is a domed structure weaved into surrounding vegetation with a side entrance, lined with fine grasses and sometimes hair, measuring about 5 inches across and 3 inches in height.
Dite type
Insectivorous

General Info

Feeding Habits

Bird Feeder Type
Platform

Sounds

Song
Recording location: Mexico

Behavior

Grasshopper Sparrow typically exhibit terrestrial foraging habits, often walking or running in search of insects and seeds across open grounds, utilizing their camouflaged plumage as a strategic advantage for stealth. Habitually, males assert their presence by perching on grass stems, engaging in a distinctive display of wing quivering accompanied by their song. Their flights are brief and fluttery, tending to cover short distances before they swiftly retreat back into dense grasses to navigate threats. These birds are seasonally monogamous, forging pair bonds that last only through the breeding season. Unlike many bird species, grasshopper Sparrow do not form flocks, although they may gather in numbers during winter in suitable habitats. Predators like Loggerhead Shrikes pose a threat to their safety.

Distribution Area

Their breeding habitat is open fields and prairie across southern Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America, with a small endangered population in the Andes of Colombia and (perhaps only formerly) Ecuador. The northern populations migrate to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Like many grassland birds, this bird's numbers have declined across many parts of its range, including a 98% drop in New York State.

Species Status

Not globally threatened.
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) Photo By Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren , used under CC-BY-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
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