Sparrows, Buntings

Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla

Family Emberizidae (Sparrows, Buntings)

Size: 5.75"

Season: Summer

Habitat: Fields with bushy cover or scattered trees

The field sparrow is a rather slender and plain-colored sparrow with a long, notched tail and a thick-based, stubby, pinkish bill. It is brownish above with dark streaking and pale wing bars, and grayish below with a rufous wash along the breast and flanks. The head is mostly gray with a rufous crown and upper auricular patch, and a distinct, thin, white eye ring. The sexes are similar, while juveniles are duller overall with moderate dark streaking on the breast. Field sparrows forage on the ground and brush for seeds and insects, and sing, often from a conspicuous perch, a series of clear, high notes that gradually increase in speed to a rapid trill. The adult is illustrated.