Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Songbirds

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

By family

New World Sparrows of Canada New World Sparrows of the United States New World Sparrows of Alberta New World Sparrows of British Columbia New World Sparrows of Manitoba New World Sparrows of New Brunswick New World Sparrows of Newfoundland and Labrador New World Sparrows of Nova Scotia New World Sparrows of Northwest Territories

See what's near you right now

The Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 21.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
Genus Melospiza
Species melodia

Where it lives

Widespread, also to central Mexico

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 21.9 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Passerellidae
Order: Passeriformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Main colours Brown Grey Red White

Male vs female

Sexes look alike: streaky brown above with russet (red-brown) wings, tail and crown/eye stripes, a grey face, and a white breast with heavy streaking that converges into a dark central breast spot.

Juvenile appearance

Buffier overall with finer streaking and a weaker or absent central breast spot.

Similar birds

Least Concern

Botteri’s Sparrow

Peucaea botterii

Vulnerable

Guadalupe Junco

Junco insularis

Least Concern

Common Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavopectus

Least Concern

Rufous-capped Brushfinch

Atlapetes pileatus

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Song Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Song Sparrow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) belongs to the Passerellidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread, also to c Mexico.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.9 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 6.7 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 10.3 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Song Sparrow — Song

Recorded by Rogerick Anas Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Song Sparrow?

The Song Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 21.9 g.

Where does the Song Sparrow live?

The Song Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, also to c Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Song Sparrow belong to?

The Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Song Sparrow eat?

The Song Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Song Sparrow migrate?

The Song Sparrow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Song 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 Song Sparrow make?

1 real field recording of the Song 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 Song Sparrow's range?

The Song Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 10.3 million km².