Song Sparrow
A species of Round-tailed Sparrows Scientific name : Melospiza melodia Genus : Round-tailed Sparrows
Song Sparrow, A species of Round-tailed Sparrows
Botanical name: Melospiza melodia
Genus: Round-tailed Sparrows
Content
Description General Info
Description
The song Sparrow can be found low to the ground in vegetation and thickets in nearly all habitat conditions, including suburban areas. They are frequent visitors to home birdfeeders but can also be seen foraging for food on the ground. Their appearance can differ across the 24 known subspecies, but all of them tend to only make short, fluttery flights.
Size
13 - 23 cm
Life Expectancy
11 years
Nest Placement
Shrub
Clutch Size
1 - 6 eggs
Incubation Period
1 - 7 broods
Number of Broods
12 - 15 days
Nestling Period
9 - 12 days
Feeding Habits
Song Sparrow maintain a varied diet consisting of insects, spiders, snails, and earthworms during summer, and seeds and fruits throughout the year, such as buckwheat, sunflower, and berries, adapting their diet to local abundance and even scavenging from gull droppings.
Habitat
Song Sparrow thrive in a broad range of open environments from lowlands to montane regions, with a preference for areas near water bodies. They occupy diverse landscapes including wetlands, grasslands, thickets, and the understories of forests. The species shows adaptability to various climates and is often found in man-altered spaces like agricultural lands and urban fringes. Moreover, song Sparrow thrives among varied vegetation like tidal marshes, desert scrubs, pine forests, prairies, freshwater borders, and dense shrubs.
Nest Behavior
Song Sparrow pairs scout for nesting sites together, sometimes near human dwellings. The female primarily constructs the nest over about 4 days, mainly in the morning hours. Their nesting includes laying eggs and both parents partake in caring for their young, with specific patterns and timing of egg-laying depending on various environmental factors.
Nest Characteristics
Song Sparrow's nest is a concealed, sturdy cup often located in grasses or weeds, occasionally off the ground up to 15 feet, and near water. It's composed of loose grasses, weeds, and bark, lined with grasses, rootlets, and animal hair. The nest spans 4-8 inches across, with an interior cup diameter of 2-2.5 inches and a depth of 2.5-4 inches.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Hulled Sunflower Seeds
Safflower
Nyjer
Cracked Corn
Peanut Hearts
Millet
Milo
Bird Feeder Type
Platform
Ground
Sounds
Call
Recording location: United States
Song
Recording location: United States
Song
Recording location: United States
Behavior
Song Sparrows exhibit a blend of terrestrial and arboreal tendencies; they typically walk or hop on the ground and navigate nimbly through vegetation. They forage with a preference for concealment, yet during mating displays, males conspicuously perch and vocalize. A generally monogamous species, song Sparrow still shows a notable degree of polygyny. In the non-breeding season, juveniles may congregate near abundant food sources or water. Their flight is characterized by its straightforward, low altitude trajectory and distinctive tail movements, commonly engaging in short-distance travel between strategic perches or safe cover.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
New world sparrows Genus
Round-tailed Sparrows Species
Song Sparrow 
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