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 Redwood National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Redwood National Park
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Clay-colored Sparrow
Spizella pallida
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
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 Redwood National Park?
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Song Sparrow sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 2,153 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Song Sparrow in Redwood National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Song Sparrow in Redwood National Park in our monthly data.