Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolniiOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

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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.

Lincoln's Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow: Medium sparrow, dark-streaked pale brown upperparts, white underparts with dark streaks. Head has brown crown with gray central stripe, broad gray eyebrows and nape, pale eye-ring, and brown streak extending behind eye. Upper mandible is dark, lower mandible is pale orange-brown.

● Song: "chur-chur-chur-wee-wee-wee-wee-wah", "zee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Lincoln's Sparrow: Feeds on insects and seeds; scratches at the ground while foraging.

● Breeding & nesting: Lincoln's Sparrow: Three to six pale green eggs with red brown markings are laid in a cup-shaped nest woven from dry grass, lined with fine plant materials and hair, and built on the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Lincoln's Sparrow: Song Sparrow has heavier breast streaks and white jaw line.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Range & Habitat: Lincoln's Sparrow: Breeds across portions of Alaska and Canada, south to southwestern U.S., central Minnesota, and New England. Spends winters from southern U.S., south to Honduras. Found in shrubby meadows, shoreline forests, bog edges, and wetlands with tall vegetation.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationUncommon to fairly common

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight0.8 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America