Pl. XXII
The Birds · Plate XXII
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum
Passerellidae · Taxon 10139
| Length | 4.3–4.5 in (10.8–11.5 cm) |
| Wingspan | 7.9 in (20 cm) |
| Weight | 0.5–0.7 oz (14–20 g) |
Field marks
- Small, compact sparrow with a flat crown, thick neck, and very short tail.
- Large, deep, conical bill for its size; bill is pale pinkish to horn-colored.
- Plain buffy breast and white belly, typically without adult breast streaking.
- Mottled brown, black, tan, and chestnut upperparts with pale-edged wing feathers.
- Thin pale eye-ring and a distinct orange-yellow spot in front of the eye.
- Pale pink legs and feet.
HabitatOpen grasslands, prairies, meadows, hayfields, and pastures, usually with sparse shrub cover and some bare ground.
BehaviorUsually keeps low in grass, walking or running while foraging; males sing from low exposed stalks or fence wire. Flies short distances with rapid, fluttering wingbeats when flushed.
Palette
buffy tanmottled brownchestnutblackwhite