Melospiza georgiana
adult
The Swamp Sparrow is a well-marked, dumpy little songbird. The sexes are similar. Summer adults have a streaked brown back, and rufous wings and tail. The head has a rufous crown and dark-framed gray ear coverts that help emphasize the gray supercilium and buffish malar stripe. The white throat is bordered by a dark line, and the underparts are otherwise mostly plain gray, faintly streaked on the breast and suffused buff on the flanks. Winter adults and immatures are similar to a summer adult, but the colors are much duller and the markings are less striking. Juveniles are similar to a winter adult but browner overall and more heavily streaked.
The Swamp Sparrow is present as a breeding species across much of northern North America (except the far northwest) mainly from April to September. It migrates south in fall, and the winter range extends from southeast U.S.A. to Central America.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 5.75 in (14.5 cm)
FOOD Mainly seeds, with invertebrates in spring and summer
HABITAT Marshes, inundated scrubby woodlands, and swamp margins
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor; widespread in winter
VOICE Song is a short trilling rattle. Call is a sharp tchip
