Le Conte's Sparrow    Ammodramus leconteii

Migratory Status: Short-distance migrant

PIF Population Estimate: 3 000 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: 70%

BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 50.07

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 125

Canadian BBS Population trend: -0.7 n.s. (-2.2 to 0.9)

Life History

Le Conte’s Sparrows are shy and elusive sparrows of open, moist grasslands, meadows and marsh edges. They are a species rarely seen, often singing from concealed perches in long grasses or sedges. Instead of flying when disturbed, adults tend to drop to the ground and scurry through the vegetation. In some areas of its range, Le Conte’s Sparrows are probably more common than is currently thought, but due to its secretive nature, it is frequently overlooked.

Le Conte’s Sparrows are small and chunky with an overall streaked, light-coloured tawny-gold appearance. Sexes are visually indistinguishable with darker upperparts, brown and pale streaked back, and a short, spiky tail. The crown is a chestnut brown with a white median stripe down the centre; the face is an orangey-gold that contrasts with pale gray cheek patches. The breast and sides are also orangey-gold with fine brown streaking, while the belly is white. Where ranges overlap, this species is easily confused with Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow (A. nelsoni), but distinguished by the Nelson’s harsher song, darker colouration, lack of white crown stripe and its preference for wetter, cattail dominated marsh habitats.

The breeding range of the Le Conte’s Sparrow spans across most of the prairie provinces, into the southern boundary of the Northwest Territories and east-central British Columbia, and northwest of the Great Lakes in the United States. They also breed sporadically throughout Ontario and Quebec in isolated areas where there is appropriate habitat, with greatest concentrations found along the coast of James Bay. In general, nesting densities appear to be the highest in the western portion of the breeding range.

Le Conte’s Sparrows appear to have specific habitat requirements that may be associated with adequate moisture levels. If habitat conditions are unsuitable, Le Conte’s Sparrows will not nest in the area during a given year, but typically return to the same area in following years to re-attempt nesting. Le Conte’s Sparrows tend to be more common during “wet” years, when precipitation levels are higher than normal. Only the male sings, both during day and night. The song is a thin, insect-like buzz or high trill, “r-r-t’-sz-z-z-t”. The call note is a sharp and shrill “tsip“, which may be given repeatedly.

Reference(s)

Lowther, P. E. 2005. Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii), The Birds of North America Online, . A. Poole, Ed. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North America Online database: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/224