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Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Overview
Field Sparrow: Medium sparrow, rufous back with dark streaks, unstreaked, buff breast. Gray-brown rump. Gray head, rufous cap, and white eye-ring. Pink bill, legs and feet. Forages on ground or low shrubbery. Short flights, alternates rapid wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to the sides.
Range and Habitat
Field Sparrow: Breeds from northern North Dakota, central Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and central New England south to Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, central Texas, and western Colorado. Spends winters south to the Gulf of Mexico and northeastern Mexico; prefers abandoned fields and pastures overgrown with weeds, scattered bushes, and small saplings.
Topo Map:
Perching-like Body
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"seea-seea-seea-wee-wee-wee"
Interesting Facts
The Field Sparrow when frightened does not retreat to the cover of foliage, as does the Song Sparrow, but flies to an exposed position on top of bush or low tree, where it can watch and await developments.
They often feeds directly on fallen seeds. It may fly to the top of grass stalks, let its weight carry the stems to the ground, and then begin removing the seed.
A group of field sparrows are collectively known as a "crue" of sparrows.
Bird Term Glossary
Author
Gary Owen Dick
Related Birds
Chipping Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Olive Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Botteri's Sparrow
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Gray Bunting
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