# Saltmarsh Sparrow (*Ammospiza caudacuta*) The Saltmarsh Sparrow is a small bird that loves to live in marshy areas. It has a beautiful brown and gray color and sings sweet songs while hopping around in the grass. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Saltmarsh Sparrow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Saltmarsh_sharp_tailed_sparrow.jpg&width=800) Photo: Wolfgang Wander, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saltmarsh_sharp_tailed_sparrow.jpg) ## Appearance The Saltmarsh Sparrow is a small, streaky brown bird. It has a distinctive bright orange-buff face and breast, with a grey crown and dark streaks on its flanks. Its short tail and subtle markings help it blend into marsh grasses. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Passerellidae - **Genus:** Ammospiza ## Interesting facts - Male Saltmarsh Sparrows sometimes help feed chicks that are not even their own. - Saltmarsh Sparrows build their speedy nests in just a few hours between high tides! - Their simple, buzzy song sounds like a soft 'sis-sis-sis-tchoo' to keen listeners. - You can only find these unique sparrows living in salty wetlands along the Atlantic coast. ## Special abilities - **Tide Timer Nesting:** Saltmarsh Sparrows build nests quickly just above high tide marks, helping their eggs stay safe from rising waters. - **Salty Sips:** Saltmarsh Sparrows can drink saltwater, thanks to special glands that remove extra salt, allowing them to thrive by the sea. - **Marsh Camouflage Master:** The Saltmarsh Sparrow has perfectly streaked feathers that help it disappear into the tall, swaying marsh grasses. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 11-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 18-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.012-0.022 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-9 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 11-12 days - **Migration Distance:** 500 km ## Diet & Feeding Tiny marsh birds that mostly eat small insects and spiders, but also enjoy seeds. - **Primary Foods:** fiddler crabs, spiders, grasshoppers, beetles, marsh seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Northern Harrier](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-harrier) (*Circus hudsonius*) — hunts them while flying low over the marsh. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — preys on nests and birds during low tide. - **Eats:** Fiddler Crab (*Uca pugnax*) — forages for small crabs in the marsh mud. - **Depends on:** Smooth Cordgrass (*Spartina alterniflora*) — uses this abundant marsh grass for nesting and shelter. ## 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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Saltmarsh 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 Saltmarsh Sparrow? 11-14 cm ### What is Saltmarsh Sparrow's wingspan? 18-20 cm ### How much does Saltmarsh Sparrow weigh? 0.012-0.022 kg ### How long does Saltmarsh Sparrow live? 2-9 years ### How fast can Saltmarsh Sparrow move? 35 km/h ### What does Saltmarsh Sparrow eat? Tiny marsh birds that mostly eat small insects and spiders, but also enjoy seeds. ### Where is Saltmarsh Sparrow usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Guilford Historic Town Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guilford-historic-town-center) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Old Lyme Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-lyme-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Marine Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marine-park) — New York, US · Park [View all places to see Saltmarsh Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/saltmarsh-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: [Saltmarsh Sparrow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saltmarsh-sparrow)