Photo: AMMuench / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 12.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
- Genus Spizella
- Species pusilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Field Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Field Sparrow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) belongs to the Passerellidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA se Canada to c, e USA.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.5 g, with a wing length of about 6.4 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Field Sparrow?
The Field Sparrow is a very small bird that weighs around 12.5 g.
Where does the Field Sparrow live?
The Field Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA se Canada to c, e USA, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Field Sparrow belong to?
The Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Field Sparrow eat?
The Field Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Field Sparrow migrate?
The Field Sparrow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Field Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Field Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Field Sparrow — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Field Sparrow's range?
The Field Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.