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Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Posted on Dec 21, 2014

Here we have an attentive Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), a winter landbird species that you should be on the lookout for mixed in with other sparrows. They can be found especially near any farmlands, fields, grasslands and coastal areas, looking for seeds to devour. If there is a snowfall you can find them seeking out areas near water or plowed habitat that provides unexpectedly helpful access to grasses. This is a more typical Savannah Sparrow, but if you live on the Atlantic Coast be mindful of finding the large, pale “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow on beaches and dunes. Have you ever enjoyed a sighting of that rare subspecies? It is almost 50% heavier than most other Savannah Sparrow subspecies and breeds exclusively on Sable Island, Nova Scotia.

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) rock perched watching-0376

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) rock perched watching-0381