Above: Savannah Sparrow on a fence post near Whitemouth; by Peter Taylor
How do I recognize it?
Easily dismissed as just another “little brown job”, the Savannah Sparrow is distinguished from the more familiar Song Sparrow by its slightly smaller size and paler overall appearance, shorter tail, and more finely streaked breast. A small yellow area between the eye and bill is a helpful clincher, but not always conspicuous. The male’s song is quite complex but faint and easily overlooked in a dawn chorus.
This Savannah Sparrow, seen at Patricia Beach during fall migration, may have been heading south from the Arctic; by Peter Taylor
Does it migrate?
Yes, Savannah Sparrows are normally present in Manitoba from the second half of April to mid-October. They overwinter mainly in Mexico and the southern U.S.A.
Above: Savannah Sparrow on a roadside shrub near Whitemouth; by Peter Taylor
Where does it live?
Savannah Sparrows nest on the ground in wide-open areas including cropland and hay pastures as well as more natural grasslands. From spring to fall, they represent a large fraction of the small birds seen on wires, shrubs, and tall weeds along agricultural section roads.
Above: Savannah Sparrow on a roadside wire near Whitemouth with food for its young; by Peter Taylor
Where can I see it?
In Manitoba, the Savannah Sparrow is a common breeder throughout the agricultural portion of the province and also in tundra areas along the Hudson Bay coast. It is much scarcer in the intervening boreal forest region, where it is localized in open wetlands and avoids woodland.
Above: The Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel is one of many nest predators that Savannah Sparrows must evade; by Peter Taylor
Conservation Status
Because it has adapted better than most birds to modern agriculture, there is less conservation concern for the Savannah Sparrow than for most grassland birds. Nevertheless, there are indications of a slow decline in its numbers.
Above: This Savannah Sparrow on Vancouver Island is likely a different subspecies from those we see in Manitoba; by Peter Taylor
Did you know?
While the Savannah Sparrow can be loosely grouped with other “grassland sparrows”, it is the only member of the genus Passerculus – at least, until taxonomists decide to split off some of its many subspecies as separate species in their own right.
Written by Peter Taylor