Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Silhouette: Jason Dilworth · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyPasserellidae (New World Sparrows)
- GenusMelospiza (Melospiza Sparrows)
- SpeciesMelospiza melodia (Song Sparrow)
About the Song Sparrow
The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a medium-sized New World sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant, variable, and adaptable species. 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 brown streak through each eye. They are highly variable in size across numerous subspecies (for subspecies details, see below). The body length ranges from 11 to 18 cm (4.3 to 7.1 in) and wingspan can range from 18 to 25.4 cm (7.1 to 10.0 in). Body mass ranges from 11.9 to 53 g (0.42 to 1.87 oz). The average of all races is 32 g (1.1 oz) but the widespread nominate subspecies (M. m. melodia) weighs only about 22 g (0.78 oz) on average. The maximum lifespan in the wild is 11.3 years. 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.
In the field, they are most easily confused with Lincoln's sparrow and the Savannah... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Song Sparrow in Grand Canyon National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Grand Canyon National Park
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Green-tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Brewer's Sparrow
Spizella breweri
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
Black-chinned Sparrow
Spizella atrogularis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Wood Buffalo National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 10 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 11 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 15 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 16 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 17 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 18 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Song Sparrow in Grand Canyon National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Song Sparrow sighting in Grand Canyon National Park, based on 196 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Song Sparrow in Grand Canyon National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Song Sparrow in Grand Canyon National Park in our monthly data.