Grasshopper sparrow

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Grasshopper sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum 160849415 (cropped).jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Ammodramus
Species:
A. savannarum
Binomial name
Ammodramus savannarum
(Gmelin, 1789)
Ammodramus savannarum map.svg
Synonyms

Coturniculus savannarum

The grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) is a small New World sparrow. The genus Ammodramus contains nine species that inhabit grasslands and prairies.

The Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus) is endangered.

Description

These small sparrows measure 10–14 cm (3.9–5.5 in) in length, span about 17.5 cm (6.9 in) across the wings and weigh from 13.8 to 28.4 g (0.49 to 1.00 oz), with an average of 17 g (0.60 oz).[2][3] Adults have upperparts streaked with brown, grey, black and white; they have a light brown breast, a white belly and a short brown tail. Their face is light brown with an eye ring and a dark brown crown with a central narrow light stripe. There are regional variations in the appearance of this bird.

Distribution and habitat

Their breeding habitat is open fields and prairie grasslands across southern Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America, with a small endangered population in the Andes of Colombia and (perhaps only formerly) Ecuador. The northern populations migrate to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Like many grassland birds, this bird's numbers have declined across many parts of its range, including a 98% drop in New York State.

Behaviour

Movement

Migration

Subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrows differ in their migratory behavior. The birds breeding in most of the Eastern US and S. Canada (A. s. prantensis) migrate latitudinally up to several thousand kms each year,[4] spending winters along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.[5] The birds breeding through most of the Western part of their North American range (A. s. perspallidus) winter from Texas west to California, and south into the highland desert grasslands of northern and central Mexico. A. s. ammolegus, which breeds in the desert grasslands of SE Arizona, SW New Mexico, and adjoining states in N Mexico appears to be a short-distance, partial migrant, with some birds remaining resident year-round, and others likely moving further S. Birds of multiple breeding populations and subspecies winter together in SE Arizona.[6] Grasshopper Sparrows breeding elsewhere, including those living in the Caribbean, Central America, and the endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow are not known to migrate.  

Males typically migrate North in the spring a week or two earlier than do females. Data from light level geolocators indicate that males are present on the breeding grounds from April to October,[5] consistent with birds completing their annual molt prior to migration.[7] Individuals migrated an average of ~2,500 km over ~30 days.[5] Birds tended to migrate mostly over land, make few stop-overs of short duration, and travel at about 82 km/day.[5] Data from the Motus network largely confirm the migratory patterns gleaned from prior work,[8] but relatively few movement tracks for this species exist so far, potentially due to their secretive behavior during most of the year other than the breeding season.[9] Few recoveries of banded birds have ever been made, especially at sites other than a birds’ initial banding location.[10]

Dispersal

Breeding

The nest is a well-concealed open cup on the ground under vegetation. They forage on the ground in vegetation, mainly eating insects, especially grasshoppers, and seeds.

Song
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Vocalizations

This bird's song is a buzzy tik tuk zee, resembling the sound made by a grasshopper. Unlike some other members of the Ammodramus genus of sparrows, they will readily sing from open and exposed perches.

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Ammodramus savannarum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22721144A138486868. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Grasshopper Sparrow Fact Sheet". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
  3. ^ Dunning Jr., John B., ed. (1992). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0849342585.
  4. ^ Pyle, Peter (1997). Identification guide to North American birds : a compendium of information on identifying, ageing, and sexing "near-passerines" and passerines in the hand. Steve N. G. Howell, Siobhan Ruck, Institute for Bird Populations, Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Bolinas, Calif.: Slate Creek Press. ISBN 0-9618940-2-4. OCLC 38593534.
  5. ^ a b c d Hill, Jason M.; Renfrew, Rosalind B. (January 2019). "Migratory patterns and connectivity of two North American grassland bird species". Ecology and Evolution. 9 (1): 680–692. doi:10.1002/ece3.4795. PMC 6342103. PMID 30680148.
  6. ^ Gordon, Caleb E. (2000). "Movement Patterns of Wintering Grassland Sparrows in Arizona". The Auk. 117 (3): 748–759. doi:10.2307/4089599. ISSN 0004-8038.
  7. ^ Pyle, P., S.L. Jones, and J. M. Ruth. 2008. Molt and aging criteria for four North American grassland passerines. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Technical Publication, FWS/BTP-R6011-2008, Washington, D.C.
  8. ^ "Motus Wildlife Tracking System". motus.org. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  9. ^ Williams, Emily J.; Boyle, W. Alice (January 2018). "Patterns and correlates of within-season breeding dispersal: A common strategy in a declining grassland songbird". The Auk. 135 (1): 1–14. doi:10.1642/AUK-17-69.1. ISSN 0004-8038.
  10. ^ "Bird Banding Laboratory". www.pwrc.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-26.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ammodramus savannarum.
Wikispecies has information related to Ammodramus savannarum.
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