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Song Sparrow

Status Common in summer, uncommon in winter. Breeds. Spring arrivals can readily be noted, in localities (e.g., Cape Sable) where no wintering birds have been present, in the second half of March (average 23 March, earliest 8 March). Larger numbers appear in early April, when migrant groups of 50 or more are often seen. One banded in Knox County, Maine, on 29 March 1960 appeared 10 days later in Shelburne County. Song Sparrows are widespread in summer in relatively open habitats with adequate brushy cover. Major movements have been recorded from mid-September to late October, but many attempt to winter, making late migrants difficult to record. Estimates of over 100 have been made on Christmas Bird Counts at Broad Cove, Lunenburg County (1976), Halifax West (1976, 1977, 1984), and Wolfville (1976, 1979). Song Sparrows attend feeding stations in winter but are by no means dependent on them.

Description Length: 14-16 cm. Adults: Gray line through centre of rich brown crown; light gray line over eye; rufous line extending from eye to behind ear; feathers on back streaked with black and various shades of brown or buff; no wing bars; tail rufous, the outer feathers shorter than central ones; belly white; breast and sides boldly striped with black or brown, merging into a conspicuous spot on centre of breast. Juveniles: No breast spot.

Breeding Nest: Composed of weed stems and coarse grass with lining of fine grass, hair or both. Early nests are usually placed on the ground and always well concealed. Later in the season, nests are perhaps more often built low in trees and bushes, concealed by the foliage. Nests are placed in a variety of sites, such as in vines, brush piles and natural cavities in tree trunks, but a most unusual one was at Melanson, Kings County, on 23 July 1939, where I saw a Song Sparrow with food in its bill enter a Tree Swallow nest box.

Eggs: 4-5, usually 4; bluish white, speckled all over or sometimes blotched with rufous brown so heavily as to conceal the ground colour. The earliest date for a complete set is 20 April 1894, when a nest was found containing four slightly incubated eggs. One nest containing five eggs, found on 3 July 1915 near Wolfville, was probably a second nesting, and another found there containing newly hatched young on 6 August 1932 was probably a third nesting.

Range Breeds from the Aleutian Islands, southern Alaska, southeastern Mackenzie Valley, northern Manitoba, southern Quebec and southern Newfoundland, south to northwestern South Carolina, northern Arkansas and in the mountains to Mexico. Winters from Nova Scotia, southern Ontario and southern Alaska south to the southern United States.

Remarks Perhaps the best known of our sparrows, this bird is as much at home about our dooryards and orchards as it is in areas far removed from habitation. It is a persistent songster in the breeding season, beginning with weaker and less melodious efforts as early as January and occasionally uttering a new fragmentary song well into autumn.

In summer its food consists largely of insects but on occasion it will eat fruit. On 16 July 1949, one was seen in a chokecherry tree at Black River, Kings County, competing with Purple Finches for the ripe fruit. In winter it is practically dependent upon seeds.

When a Song Sparrow enters a birdbath in summer, it scratches one or both ears at least once, usually several times during the operation.

An incident worthy of note is told by Norman MacRae. On 3 April 1952 his cat brought home a live Song Sparrow to his farm in Lower Wolfville. A casual examination revealed no injury. When released, he expected it to take off in haste, but instead it flew to the nearest branch overhead, shook itself vigorously and burst into song.

In their respective plumages, which show considerable variation with age and season, the Song, Lincoln's, Savannah and Swamp Sparrows can present identification problems.