Henslow's Sparrow

Overview

Henslow's sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) is a North American passerine bird in the family Passerellidae, named by John James Audubon in honor of John Stevens Henslow. Originally classified in the genus Emberiza and called Henslow's bunting, the species is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Adults feature streaked brown upperparts, a light brown streaked breast, a white belly, and a white throat.
• The head displays a pale crown stripe bordered by dark stripes, while the face and neck are olive.
• Wings are rust-coloured and the tail is short, dark, and forked.
• Measuring 4.3–5.1 in (11–13 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 6.3–7.9 in (16–20 cm).
• Song consists of a quick 'se-lick'.

Habitat

Breeding occurs in fields, meadows, and shrubby fields, often wet, across interior eastern North America, including southern Canada and the midwestern United States. Wintering grounds consist of weedy fields in the American south, from Texas and Arkansas east to South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The species migrates to marshes and open pine woods in the southeastern United States.

Diet

These birds forage on the ground, feeding primarily on insects such as grasshoppers and beetles, as well as berries and seeds.

Did you know?

In 2020, a population near a Central Kentucky winery demonstrated that only 5 acres of grassy habitat are required for successful breeding, contradicting previous research that suggested a minimum of 20 to 75 acres was necessary.