Photo: Tnolley / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) — 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 Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 16.1 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 Melospiza
- Species georgiana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.1 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Swamp Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Swamp Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) belongs to the Passerellidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA nc, ne.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.1 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Swamp Sparrow?
The Swamp Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 16.1 g.
Where does the Swamp Sparrow live?
The Swamp Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA nc, ne, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Swamp Sparrow belong to?
The Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Swamp Sparrow eat?
The Swamp Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Swamp Sparrow migrate?
The Swamp Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Swamp 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 Swamp Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Swamp 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 Swamp Sparrow's range?
The Swamp Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 6 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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