Moist Woods Ecosystem-Field Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Order: Passeriformes

Family:Emberizidae

Genus:Spizella

Species:S. pusilla

General Characteristics: The Field Sparrow is 5 1/4" (13 cm). The combination of bright pink bill, rufous cap, white eye ring, and unstreaked buff breast distinguishes this from other sparrows. The Field Sparrow is a common, drab sparrow of brushy pastures and old fields. It has a simple, yet distinctive song of repeated clear whistled notes on one pitch that increase in rate until they make a trill. The song is a series of clear whistled notes, increasing in rate until they become a trill, much in the same pattern as a bouncing ball.

Special Adaptations: The Field Sparrow often feeds directly on fallen seeds. It may fly to the top of grass stalks, let its weight carry the stems to the ground, and then begin removing the seed. The male Field Sparrow starts singing as soon as he gets back in the spring. He sings vigorously until he finds a mate, but after that he sings only occasionally.