Swamp sparrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swamp sparrow |
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Melospiza
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| Species: |
georgiana
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The swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) is a medium-sized bird. It is a type of New World sparrow and is related to the song sparrow.
Contents
What Does a Swamp Sparrow Look Like?
Swamp sparrows are small birds. They have special markings that help them blend in.
Size and Weight
- Length: About 4.7 to 5.9 inches (12 to 15 cm) long.
- Weight: They weigh about 0.5 to 0.8 ounces (15 to 23 g). That's like a few quarters!
- Wingspan: Their wings stretch about 7.1 to 7.5 inches (18 to 19 cm) wide.
Colors and Markings
Adult swamp sparrows have backs that are streaked with rusty, buff, and black colors. Their chest is plain gray, and their belly is light. They have a white throat. Their wings are a bright rusty color.
Most male swamp sparrows, and some females, have a rust-colored cap on their head. Their face is gray with a dark line going through their eye. They have a short beak and fairly long legs.
Younger birds and adults in winter look a bit different. They usually have two brown stripes on their head. Also, much of their gray feathers are replaced with a buff color.
Where Do Swamp Sparrows Live?
Swamp sparrows live in wet, marshy places. They are found across the northern United States and Canada.
Breeding Areas
These birds breed in marshes. This includes places with salty water, called brackish marshes. They live all over eastern North America and central Canada.
A small group of these sparrows lives in tidal marshes. These are marshes affected by ocean tides. They are found from northern Virginia to the Hudson River Estuary. These sparrows look a bit different. They have more black feathers and a grayer look. They also have a bigger beak and sing different songs.
Nesting and Eggs
Swamp sparrows build their nests in marsh plants. The nest is usually bulky. It is often placed just above the ground or the water. Leaves or grass arch over the top of the nest.
The female sparrow builds a new nest every year. She usually lays about four eggs at a time. When she leaves the nest, she makes a series of chirping sounds. This might be to tell her mate or other male sparrows to stay away.
Migration
While some swamp sparrows stay in the southern parts of their breeding range all year, most of them migrate. This means they travel to warmer places for winter. They mainly fly to the southeastern United States.
What Do Swamp Sparrows Eat?
Swamp sparrows usually look for food on the ground. They search near the water's edge, in shallow water, or among marsh plants.
Seasonal Diet
In winter, their main food is fruits and seeds. But during the breeding season, they mostly eat arthropods. Arthropods are small creatures like insects and spiders.
What Does a Swamp Sparrow Sound Like?
The song of the swamp sparrow is a slow, steady trill. It sounds slower than the song of a chipping sparrow. A male swamp sparrow can sing several different trills. Their common call is a loud "chip" sound. It might remind you of a phoebe bird.
Sadly, the number of swamp sparrows has gone down in some areas. This is because their marsh homes are being lost.
Images for kids
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Swamp sparrow taken at Lake Mattamuskeet
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A swamp sparrow in East Hartford, Connecticut
