Birds of North America Home Page

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America


Savannah Sparrow

Bruant des prés

Passerculus sandwichensis

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

sparrows

There are many sub-species of the Savannah Sparrow. This specific sparrow is seen all over North America, from the northern shores of the Arctic Ocean and right into the very southern regions of Mexico. These sub-species are broken up by their habitat locations. The most common among them, is the Savannah Sparrow (taiga). These sparrows nest right across the northern continent. In the winter months, they are seen as far as the southern regions of Mexico. Depending on the time of the year, the Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich) can be seen along the eastern coast, from Nova Scotia to Florida. Its primary nesting ground is Sable Island which is located in the Atlantic Ocean, near the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Savannah Sparrow (Belding's) has the smallest range, starting from southern California to the southern tip of the California Baja. The Savannah Sparrow (Large-billed) is seen in this same area and its range also extends a short distance down the northwestern coast of Mexico. Then, there is the Savannah Sparrow that is seen in the northwestern areas of North America and are identified by their darker reddish-brown plumage.


North American Bird Calls

  1. Click to hear Choice 1


  • Summer
  • Year Around
  • Winter
range map

The Savannah Sparrow is one of the most common birds seen on the North American continent. They prefer pastures, hayfields, grasslands and the stunted trees (shrubs) of the northern tundra. Once one hears their songs, they will be easy to remember. These greyish-white colored to dark brown sparrows will be easy to seek out. An ideal place to find them in the agricultural zones is to observe the tops of fenceposts or on fencelines.


References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.


Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB