# Grasshopper Sparrow (*Ammodramus savannarum*) The Grasshopper Sparrow is a small bird that loves to hop around in grassy fields. It has a sweet, chirpy song that sounds like it's singing about summer days. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Grasshopper Sparrow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Grasshopper_Sparrow.jpg&width=800) Photo: dominic sherony, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grasshopper_Sparrow.jpg) ## Appearance The Grasshopper Sparrow is a small, streaky brown bird with a large, flat head and a short tail. It has a buffy chest and an unstreaked pale belly, often with a yellow patch near the bend of its wing, making it look well-hidden in dry grasses. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Passerellidae - **Genus:** Ammodramus ## Interesting facts - Some Grasshopper Sparrows travel thousands of miles to warmer lands for winter! - Their eggs are often spotted with reddish-brown, making them tiny works of art! - Unlike many birds, they prefer to walk or run through fields rather than fly long distances! - When singing, a male Grasshopper Sparrow often tilts its head back dramatically! ## Special abilities - **Master of Camouflage:** Grasshopper Sparrows have streaky brown plumage that helps them blend perfectly into tall, dry grasses to hide from predators. - **Buzzing Song:** Grasshopper Sparrows can produce a high-pitched, insect-like buzz as a song, helping them communicate and claim territory. - **Ground Sneak:** Grasshopper Sparrows can run quickly through dense vegetation like a mouse, which helps them forage and evade detection. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 11-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 17-22 cm - **Weight:** 0.013-0.02 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-4 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 10-13 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding These tiny birds feast mostly on insects like grasshoppers and beetles, plus a few seeds! - **Age differences:** Young birds eat mostly soft-bodied insects, while adults include more seeds in their diet. - **Primary Foods:** Grasshoppers, Beetles, Crickets, Caterpillars, Spiders, Grass seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Red-legged Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-legged-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus femurrubrum*) — A primary food source for sparrows, rich in protein. - **Eats:** [Japanese Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/japanese-beetle) (*Popillia japonica*) — Sparrows help control this common agricultural pest. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common aerial predator of small grassland birds. - **Depends on:** [Big Bluestem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-bluestem) (*Andropogon gerardii*) — Key prairie grass providing essential cover and nesting sites. ## 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. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [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 don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Grasshopper 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 Grasshopper Sparrow? 11-14 cm ### What is Grasshopper Sparrow's wingspan? 17-22 cm ### How much does Grasshopper Sparrow weigh? 0.013-0.02 kg ### How long does Grasshopper Sparrow live? 2-4 years ### How fast can Grasshopper Sparrow move? 35 km/h ### What does Grasshopper Sparrow eat? These tiny birds feast mostly on insects like grasshoppers and beetles, plus a few seeds! ### Where is Grasshopper Sparrow usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/midewin-national-tallgrass-prairie) — Illinois, US · Forest - [Brattonsville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattonsville-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Fort Supply](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-supply) — Oklahoma, US · Historic Site - [Linwood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/linwood-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Pilot Grove State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pilot-grove-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Manassas National Battlefield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/manassas-national-battlefield-park) — Virginia, US · National Park [View all places to see Grasshopper Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/grasshopper-sparrow) ## 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: [Grasshopper Sparrow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grasshopper-sparrow)