General

Seaside Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow (maritimus), with streaked olive-gray upperparts and pale buff underparts with streaks on breast and sides. Head has yellow streak between eye and bill. Bill is long with thick base. Tail is short and pointed. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Seaside Sparrow: Resident in coastal marshes of eastern U.S. and the Gulf Coast.

Breeding and Nesting

Seaside Sparrow: Three to six white to pale green eggs marked with red brown are laid in a nest made of dried grass and sedges, lined with finer grass, and attached to marsh reeds or set on a clump of grass, from 1 to 5 feet above the ground; sometimes higher. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Seaside Sparrow: Eats small snails, insects, crustaceans, and seeds. Forages on the ground, gleaning food as it walks upright like a small rail; also wades in shallow water.

Readily Eats

Sunflower Seed, Commercial Mixed Bird Seed

Vocalization

Seaside Sparrow: Song is a harsh, buzzing "oka-chee-weee", reminiscent of a Red-winged Blackbird. Call is a "chip."

Similar Species

Seaside Sparrow: Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow is smaller, paler, and buff overall with dark streaks on breast, sides, and flanks, black crown, and gray nape.