Field sparrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Field sparrow |
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| Conservation status | |
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Spizella
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| Species: |
pusilla
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The field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) is a small bird found in North and Central America. It belongs to the family called Passerellidae, which includes many sparrows. This little bird is about 140 millimeters (5.5 inches) long. It weighs around 12.5 grams (0.44 ounces).
Field sparrows have a grey head with a rusty-red cap. They have a white ring around their eyes and a pink beak. Their upper body is brown with black and light brown streaks. Their chest is light brown, and their belly is white. They also have a tail that looks like a fork. Some field sparrows are more grey, while others are more reddish-brown.
You can find field sparrows in eastern Canada and the eastern United States. Birds from the northern areas fly south for winter. They go to the southern United States and Mexico. These birds like to live in bushy areas with shrubs and grassy fields. They build their nests on the ground, hidden under a bush or a clump of grass. Field sparrows look for food on the ground or in low plants. They mostly eat seeds and insects. Even though their numbers might be slowly going down, they are still common. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says they are of "least concern". This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
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What Does a Field Sparrow Look Like?
Adult field sparrows have brown feathers on their upper body. Their chest is a light brown color, and their belly is white. They have two light-colored bars on their wings. Their tail is dark brown and shaped like a fork.
Their face is grey, and they have a rusty-red cap on their head. A white ring goes around each eye, and their beak is pink. You can also see rusty-red marks behind their eyes. Some field sparrows have more grey feathers, while others are more reddish-brown.
These birds are usually about 13 to 15 centimeters (5.1 to 6 inches) long. They weigh about 12.5 grams (0.44 ounces). Their wings can spread about 20 centimeters (8 inches) wide.
Where Field Sparrows Live and Their Homes
Field sparrows make their homes in brushy, shrubby fields. They live across eastern North America. Their nest is like an open cup. They build it on the ground, often hidden under a clump of grass or in a small group of bushes.
Some field sparrows stay in the southern parts of their range all year. But birds from the colder northern areas migrate south. They fly to the southern United States and Mexico for the winter.
How Field Sparrows Live Their Lives
These birds search for food on the ground. They also look in low plants and bushes. Their diet mainly includes insects and seeds. Outside of the nesting season, they might feed in small groups.
The male field sparrow sings from a high spot. This could be a shrub or a fencepost. His song tells other birds that this area is his territory. The song is a series of soft whistles. It ends with a fast trill, which sounds like a bouncing ball slowing down.
The number of field sparrows grew when settlers cleared forests in eastern North America. However, their numbers might have gone down more recently. Even so, they are still a common bird species. They live in a very wide area. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has said they are of "least concern". This means they are not in danger.
See also
In Spanish: Chingolo campestre para niños
