Savannah Sparrow

Savannah, a Sparrow of Grasslands and Open Habitats

Savannah Sparrow

 The Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is a common New Brunswick sparrow of fields and open weedy habitats, as its name suggests.  It is the most likely sparrow to be seen in open areas sitting on the ground or perched on a weed or fencepost.  It looks similar to the Song Sparrow but is smaller, shorter tailed and has yellow lores (area between eye and bill).  It also has a pink bill and a paler superciliary line (eyebrow).  The Savannah has a notched tail and the Song Sparrow has a rounded tail.  Some sources describe 21 subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow that are divided into 4 groups.  These subspecies vary in size, colouration, bill shape and voice.

Savannah Sparrow

The Savannah Sparrow's breeding range is from Alaska, includes all of Canada except the Arctic islands, south to the mid-US states.  It winters in the southern US, Mexico and southward to Guatemala.

The Savannah Sparrow nests on the ground in grassy areas.  Its nest is a cup made of grass and moss and lined with hair, fine grass and roots.  It lays 2 to 6 pale greenish-blue eggs mottled with brown.  Incubation is 10 to 13 days and is shared by both adults.  Savannahs feed on seeds, insects, spiders and sometimes small crustaceans.  They are one of our sparrows that scratch in the dirt to feed.  The Savannah Sparrow is named for Savannah, Georgia where the first specimen was collected.

Savannah 'Ipswich' Sparrow

One subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow that is important in this area is the (Savannah) Ipswich Sparrow.  It is a large subspecies that breeds only on Sable Island, NS and can be seen during migration along our coasts.  It winters along east coast beaches south to Florida.  It is larger, has a larger bill and has very pale plumage.  The photo above shows an Ipswich Sparrow and was taken at Point Lepreau, NB.  One or two of this subspecies are seen every year during the annual Seabird Migration Census done there.

The Savannah Sparrow is a wonderful sparrow, so easily seen as one walks through fields or along marshes.  It is, however, skittish and tends to take a quick look at you before diving into the grass to hide.  It is a good runner and often will run well away so you won't see it again.  Its song is a very distinctive buzzy sound described by Sibley as ti ti ti tseeeeeee tisoooo.