Photo: Laura Erickson / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
LeConte’s Sparrow
Ammospiza leconteii
LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) — 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 LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 13 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 Ammospiza
- Species leconteii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The LeConte’s 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 LeConte’s Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) is a member of the Passerellidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA c Canada to nc USA.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the LeConte’s Sparrow?
The LeConte’s Sparrow is a very small bird that weighs around 13 g.
Where does the LeConte’s Sparrow live?
The LeConte’s Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA c Canada to nc USA, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the LeConte’s Sparrow belong to?
The LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the LeConte’s Sparrow eat?
The LeConte’s Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the LeConte’s Sparrow migrate?
The LeConte’s Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the LeConte’s 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 LeConte’s Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the LeConte’s 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 LeConte’s Sparrow's range?
The LeConte’s Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 2.9 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.
Explore more birds
More in Passerellidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
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.