General

Field Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow with rufous cap and unstreaked, buff breast. Eye-ring is white and bill is pink. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has gray-striped crown and streaked underparts.

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.

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.

Author

Gary Owen Dick