Clay-colored Sparrow

Overview

The clay-colored sparrow is a small New World sparrow native to North America. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is known for its light brown upperparts and pale underparts.

Identification

• Light brown upperparts with darker streaks on the back and pale underparts.
• Distinctive head markings include a pale crown stripe on a dark brown crown, a white eye-line, a dark line through the eyes, and a light brown cheek patch.
• A short, pale bill with a dark tip, grey back of the neck, and brown wings with wing bars.
• Song consists of a 'Bzzzz bzzzz za za' delivered from an open perch.

Habitat

Breeding habitats consist of shrubby open areas and jack pine woods across central Canada and the central northern United States east to the Great Lakes, with a range that is expanding eastward. Non-breeding populations migrate in flocks to southern Texas and Mexico.

Diet

These birds forage on the ground, consuming mainly seeds and insects. Outside the nesting season, they often feed in small flocks, while during nesting, feeding areas may be far from the nest and are not defended.

Did you know?

Clay-colored sparrow nests are frequently targeted by brown-headed cowbirds, and the host birds may abandon the nest when this parasitism occurs.