Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow – Melospiza melodia

Adult song sparrows have brown upperparts with dark streaks on the back and are white underneath with dark streaking and a dark brown spot in the middle of the breast. They have a brown cap and a long brown rounded tail. Their face is gray with a streak through the eye. [1]

Song Sparrows thrive in human dominated areas such as in suburbs, agricultural fields, and along roadsides. Permanent residents of the southern half of their range, northern populations of the song sparrow migrate to the southern United States or Mexico during winter and intermingle with the native, non-migratory population. [1]

Song Sparrow

The sparrow species derives its name from its colorful repertoire of songs. Enthusiasts report that one of the songs heard often in suburban locations closely resembles the opening four notes of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. The male uses a fairly complex song to declare ownership of its territory and attract females. [1]

Song Sparrows are frequent visitors to bird feeders and will often build nests in residential areas. [2]

Song Sparrows often lay two or more clutches of eggs per breeding season. [2]  The eggs of the Song sparrow are brown with greenish white spots. Females lay three to five eggs per clutch, with an average incubation time of 13–15 days before hatching. [1]

References and Additional Information

[1]  Wikipedia: Song Sparrow
[2]  Cornell – All About Birds: Song Sparrow
[3]  The Breeding Bird Atlas of Georgia – UGA Press: Schneider, Beaton, Keyes and Klaus, Eds.