Henslow's sparrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henslow's sparrow |
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| Genus: |
Centronyx
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| Species: |
henslowii
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The Henslow's sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) is a small passerine bird, which means it's a type of perching bird. It's part of the Passerellidae family, also known as the New World sparrows. This bird was named by the famous bird artist John James Audubon to honor his friend, John Stevens Henslow.
What Does It Look Like?
Adult Henslow's sparrows have streaky brown feathers on their upper parts. Their chest is light brown with streaks, and their belly and throat are white. They have a pale stripe on the top of their head, with a dark stripe on each side. Their face and neck are olive-colored, and their wings are a rust color. They also have a short, dark, forked tail.
Size of a Henslow's Sparrow
- Length: About 4.3 to 5.1 inches (11 to 13 cm)
- Weight: Around 0.4 to 0.5 ounces (11 to 15 grams)
- Wingspan: About 6.3 to 7.9 inches (16 to 20 cm)
Where Do They Live and What Do They Eat?
Henslow's sparrows like to live in grassy fields with shrubs, often in wet areas. They can be found breeding in southern Canada, the northeastern United States, and the midwestern United States.
They build their nests on or very close to the ground, hidden in the grass. Their nest is shaped like an open cup. These birds sometimes nest in small groups.
When winter comes, they migrate south. They fly to marshes and open pine forests in the southeastern United States.
These sparrows look for food on the ground. They mainly eat insects and seeds. Their song is a quick se-lick, which is quite short and simple.
Conservation Efforts
The number of Henslow's sparrows has been going down. This is probably because they are losing their grassland homes. However, a program called the Conservation Reserve Program, started by the United States Department of Agriculture, has helped a lot. This program pays farmers to plant grasses and trees on land that would otherwise be used for crops. This creates more habitat for birds like the Henslow's sparrow.
Thanks to these efforts, the Henslow's sparrow's population has become more stable. Because of this improvement, its conservation status was changed in 2018 from Near Threatened to Least Concern. This means they are not as close to being endangered as they once were.
Different Types of Henslow's Sparrows
Scientists have studied Henslow's sparrows closely. There used to be ideas about different types (subspecies) in places like Texas and South Dakota. However, today, most scientists agree there are two main subspecies:
- The western Henslow's sparrow
- The eastern Henslow's sparrow
These two groups mostly live in different areas, separated by the Appalachian Mountains.
See also
In Spanish: Chingolo de Henslow para niños
