Bachman's Sparrow

Aimophila aestivalisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

General

Bachman's Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow with brown-streaked gray upperparts and buff underparts except for white belly. Face is gray with brown crown and a thin, dark line extending back from eye. Tail is long, dark, and round-tipped. Upper mandible is dark. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is buff and streaked underneath.

Range and Habitat

Bachman's Sparrow: Breeds in southeastern U.S. north to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, but only very locally. Spends winters chiefly in southern Atlantic and Gulf coast states. Inhabits dry open pine or oak woods with a scattering of scrub; also frequents overgrown weedy fields and pastures.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"chip-chip-chip", "sweet-sweet-sweet"

Interesting Facts

The Bachman's Sparrow was named by Audubon for his close friend Dr. John Bachman (1790-1874), who discovered the species in South Carolina.

This species is the only sparrow that is endemic to the United States. They were once called the Pine-Woods Sparrow for their preference for pine woods habitat.

Habitat loss is likely their largest threat. Once clearings mature through succession and understory becomes likewise degraded, their preferred habitat becomes unsuitable.

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.

Bachman's Sparrow

Bachman's Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow with brown-streaked gray upperparts and buff underparts except for white belly. Face is gray with brown crown and a thin, dark line extending back from eye. The tail is long, dark, and round-tipped. Upper mandible is dark. Legs and feet are pink.

● Song: "chip-chip-chip", "sweet-sweet-sweet"

● Foraging & Feeding: Bachman's Sparrow: Eats mostly insects, but also snails, seeds, and spiders; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Bachman's Sparrow: Three to five white eggs are laid in a domed nest with a side entrance, made of grass and forbs, and lined with plant down, grass, and hair. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Bachman's Sparrow: Field Sparrow is smaller, with smaller pink bill, gray head, brown crown, brown ear patch, white eye-ring, and gray underparts with buff wash.

Flight Pattern

Short jerky flights of brief duration with rapidly beating wings briefly alternating with wings pulled to body.

● Range & Habitat: Bachman's Sparrow: Breeds in southeastern U.S. north to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, but only very locally. Spends winters chiefly in southern Atlantic and Gulf coast states. Inhabits dry open pine or oak woods with a scattering of scrub; also frequents overgrown weedy fields and pastures.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationYes but uncommon

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight0.7 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America