Le Conte's Sparrow

Ammodramus leconteiiOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

General

Le Conte's Sparrow: Small sparrow with brown-streaked back, brown-streaked gray nape, pale gray underparts with streaks on sides, and yellow breast. Head is flat and black-capped with a white median line. Face is yellow-orange with gray cheeks and black eye-line forming a T behind eye. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is duller, lacks nape patch, and has pale brown median cap stripe.

Range and Habitat

Le Conte's Sparrow: Breeds from Mackenzie and central Quebec south to northern Montana, Minnesota, and northern Michigan. Spends winters in southeastern states. Prefers moist grasslands and boggy meadows; stays on dry fields in winter.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"buzz", "tsip"

Interesting Facts

Although the Le Conte's Sparrow was first discovered in 1790, the first nest was not found until nearly 100 years later.
Few have ever been banded. Of the 355 banded between 1967 and 1984, none were ever recovered.
This sparrow is almost impossible to flush, as it prefers running along the ground to flying.
A group of sparrows has many collective nouns, including a "crew", "flutter", "meinie", "quarrel", and "ubiquity" of sparrows.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Le Conte's Sparrow

Le Conte's Sparrow: Small sparrow, brown-streaked back, brown-streaked gray nape, pale gray underparts with streaks on sides, yellow breast. Head is flat, black-capped with a white median line. Face is yellow-orange with gray cheeks, black eye-line forming a T behind eye. Legs, feet are pink-brown.

● Song: "buzz", "tsip"

● Foraging & Feeding: Le Conte's Sparrow: Feeds primarily on insects, seeds, and spiders. Walks and runs on the ground while foraging.

● Breeding & nesting: Le Conte's Sparrow: Three to five brown spotted, pale gray eggs, are laid in a nest made of grass, rushes, and stems, and lined with fine plant materials. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Le Conte's Sparrow: Sharp-tailed Sparrow lacks crown stripe and brown streaks on gray nape.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Range & Habitat: Le Conte's Sparrow: Breeds from Mackenzie and central Quebec south to northern Montana, Minnesota, and northern Michigan. Spends winters in southeastern states. Prefers moist grasslands and boggy meadows; stays on dry fields in winter.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationYes but uncommon

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight0.5 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America