Nelson'S Sparrow
ExploreBirds
Nelson'S Sparrow
ammospiza nelsoni
Nelson's Sparrow is a small, secretive songbird primarily associated with dense, wet grasses and marshes. Named after American naturalist Edward W. Nelson, this bird is notorious for its skulking behavior, often preferring to run mouse-like through thick marsh vegetation rather than take flight. It comprises three distinct breeding populations: one in the freshwater marshes of the North American interior prairies, one along the Hudson Bay, and one along the northern Atlantic coast. During migration and winter, they converge along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. They are a rewarding challenge for birders who have the patience to spot them, offering a beautiful splash of warm ochre and crisp gray plumage once they finally emerge from the reeds.
Habitat: Typically found in the dense, wet grasses of freshwater marshes, coastal estuaries, wet meadows, and saltmarshes.
Appearance
Nelson's Sparrow is a compact sparrow measuring 11 to 13 centimeters in length. Its most striking feature is a bright ochre or orange-buff face, which contrasts strongly with a broad gray nape and dark brown crown stripes. The bird's back is richly patterned with dark brown and prominent white stripes, while the breast is a warm buff with relatively faint, blurry streaking that fades into a white belly. It features a relatively large bill and a short, spiky tail that aids in navigating through dense marsh grass.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyPasserellidaeGenusAmmospiza
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Because they are so reluctant to fly when flushed by humans or predators, they will often run through the mud beneath dense marsh grass exactly like a small rodent.
Nelson's Sparrow and the Saltmarsh Sparrow were once considered a single species known as the 'Sharp-tailed Sparrow' before being split into two distinct species in 1995.
Their unusual song is often described as sounding like a drop of cold water hitting a hot frying pan—a quiet, wheezy hiss.
There are three distinct breeding populations of Nelson’s Sparrow, and the birds of the interior prairies look surprisingly different in color saturation than those breeding on the Atlantic coast.
Special abilities
Ability
Mouse-like Foraging
Navigates dense marsh vegetation by running quickly along the ground rather than flying, which helps it evade aerial predators.
Ability
Scramble Mating System
Males do not defend strict territories; instead, they roam widely across the marsh to find receptive females in a non-territorial mating strategy.
Ability
Saline Tolerance
Coastal and wintering populations have physiological adaptations to process high-salt diets, allowing them to thrive in tidal saltmarshes.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 11-13 cm
- Wingspan
- 17-20 cm
- Weight
- 0.013-0.017 kg
- Lifespan
- 3-7 years
- Top Speed
- 40 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 3-5
- Incubation
- 11-12 days
- Migration Distance
- 3500 km
Diet & Feeding
Consumes a mix of insects and marine invertebrates during the breeding season, switching primarily to grass and weed seeds in the winter.
Age differences: Nestlings are fed an exclusively protein-rich diet consisting of insects and small invertebrates.
Primary Foods
- Insects
- Spiders
- Amphipods
- Marsh grass seeds
- Marine worms
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
host plant
Smooth Cordgrass
Spartina alterniflora
Builds nests in and forages among smooth cordgrass.
eaten by
Northern Harrier
Circus hudsonius
Preyed upon by aerial predators hunting over open marshes.
competitor
Marsh Wren
Cistothorus palustris
Competes for resources and faces occasional nest destruction by aggressive territorial marsh wrens.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Nelson'S Sparrow?
The easiest way to identify Nelson'S Sparrow is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Nelson'S Sparrow?
11-13 cm
What is Nelson'S Sparrow's wingspan?
17-20 cm
How much does Nelson'S Sparrow weigh?
0.013-0.017 kg
How long does Nelson'S Sparrow live?
3-7 years
How fast can Nelson'S Sparrow move?
40 km/h
What does Nelson'S Sparrow eat?
Consumes a mix of insects and marine invertebrates during the breeding season, switching primarily to grass and weed seeds in the winter.
Where is Nelson'S Sparrow usually found?
Typically found in the dense, wet grasses of freshwater marshes, coastal estuaries, wet meadows, and saltmarshes.
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