Migratory Status: Short-distance migrant
PIF Population Estimate: 
54 000 000
Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: <25%
BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 62.33
PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 125
Canadian BBS Population trend: -1.0 (-1.3 to -0.6)
Life History
The Song Sparrow is perhaps one of the most recognized and widespread sparrows in North America. With such a wide distribution, the Song Sparrow is also one of the most polytypic passerines (a species with several distinct races) in North America, with 24 recognized subspecies. Breeding from coast to coast and from arctic to desert, morphological variation is extreme, with individuals varying by as much as 150% by body mass across this range. Despite such variation, males are recognized by their distinct song, which consists of 2 to 3 introductory notes of the same pitch, followed by a series of various trills or buzzes. A commonly used paraphrase for this species’ song is “Maids, maids, maids, put on your tea kettle-ettle-ettle”.
Although the Song Sparrow is most easily distinguished by song, there are several diagnostic morphological features that are distinct to the species. The combination of stout body, rounded head, streaked breast converging into a central breast spot, long conical bill, and broad lateral throat stripes are distinct.
The breeding range extends from the western tip of the Aleutians, east to Newfoundland, and from southern California, east to southern Florida. Populations breeding in Canada are largely migratory, except for populations in coastal and interior British Columbia, which are resident. Migratory populations winter as far south as Mexico, and casually to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda.
The diet of the Song Sparrow varies widely depending on location and season. The diet consists of seeds, fruits, and invertebrates, though proportions vary according to availability.
Reference(s)
Arecese, P., M. K. Sogge, A. B. Marr, and M. A. Patten. 2002. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), The Birds of North America, No. 704. A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists's Union, Washington, D.C.
