Photo: DMSDMS215 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Seaside Sparrow
Ammospiza maritima
Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima) — 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 Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 22.2 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 maritima
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Seaside Sparrow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Seaside Sparrow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima) belongs to the Passerellidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA e, s USA coasts.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.2 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 5.5 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 184,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Seaside Sparrow?
The Seaside Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 22.2 g.
Where does the Seaside Sparrow live?
The Seaside Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA e, s USA coasts, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Seaside Sparrow belong to?
The Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Seaside Sparrow eat?
The Seaside Sparrow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Seaside Sparrow migrate?
The Seaside Sparrow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Seaside 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 Seaside Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Seaside 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 Seaside Sparrow's range?
The Seaside Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 184,000 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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