# Brewer's Sparrow (*Spizella breweri*) The Brewer's Sparrow is a small, cheerful bird that loves to sing! It has a soft, brown body with a light belly, making it look like a little bundle of joy in the grass. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Brewer's Sparrow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spizella_breweri.jpg&width=800) Photo: www.naturespicsonline.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spizella_breweri.jpg) ## Appearance The Brewer's Sparrow is a small, streaky brown bird with a plain, unstreaked gray face and a tiny, conical bill. Its back has fine dark streaks, and its belly is pale, giving it a subtle, camouflaged look for blending into dry landscapes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Passerellidae - **Genus:** Spizella ## Interesting facts - Baby Brewer's Sparrows grow super fast, leaving the nest just 7-10 days after hatching! - Despite being small, Brewer's Sparrows sometimes migrate thousands of kilometers between seasons! - Female Brewer's Sparrows are incredible architects, building their tiny cup-shaped nests hidden deep within sagebrush plants. - Their song is often described as a long, dry trill, sometimes called an 'insect song' because it sounds like a buzzing. ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Master:** Brewer's Sparrow has subtle brown and gray plumage that helps them disappear into dry, shrubby habitats, protecting them from predators. - **Sagebrush Navigator:** Brewer's Sparrow can find its way across long distances during migration, using cues like the sun and stars to reach its homes. - **Weed Seed Hunter:** Brewer's Sparrow can efficiently forage for tiny seeds among dry grasses and shrubs, providing essential energy in harsh environments. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 18-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.014 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-7 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 10-12 days - **Migration Distance:** 3500 km ## Diet & Feeding These sparrows munch on seeds from plants and snack on small insects like grasshoppers. - **Primary Foods:** Grass Seeds, Weed Seeds, Beetles, Grasshoppers, Caterpillars - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Sharp-shinned Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sharp-shinned-hawk) (*Accipiter striatus*) — A common raptor that hunts small birds like sparrows. - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — Ground-dwelling snake that preys on eggs and nestlings. - **Depends on:** [Big Sagebrush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-sagebrush) (*Artemisia tridentata*) — Provides critical nesting sites, cover, and seeds for food. - **Eats:** [Gray Bird Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-bird-grasshopper) (*Schistocerca nitens*) — A common insect prey item found in their arid habitats. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brewer's Sparrow? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Brewer's Sparrow? 12-14 cm ### What is Brewer's Sparrow's wingspan? 18-20 cm ### How much does Brewer's Sparrow weigh? 0.01-0.014 kg ### How long does Brewer's Sparrow live? 2-7 years ### How fast can Brewer's Sparrow move? 40 km/h ### What does Brewer's Sparrow eat? These sparrows munch on seeds from plants and snack on small insects like grasshoppers. ### Where is Brewer's Sparrow usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Elephant Butte Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elephant-butte-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Gallup Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gallup-commercial-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Brewer's Sparrow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brewers-sparrow)