Henslow'S Sparrow

centronyx henslowii

Henslow's Sparrow is a charming yet highly secretive songbird native to the grasslands of North America. Renowned for its subtle beauty and quiet demeanor, this small sparrow is a true specialist of tallgrass prairies, damp meadows, and neglected agricultural fields. Unlike many of its vocal avian neighbors, it prefers to keep a low profile, spending much of its time walking or running through dense, dead ground vegetation in search of insects and seeds. Its elusive nature makes it a highly sought-after species for birdwatchers across its range. Despite its understated lifestyle, this bird is a vital indicator of healthy grassland ecosystems. It is highly sensitive to habitat disturbance and fragmentation, making its presence a sign of a well-preserved prairie habitat. Its unique behaviors, such as its mouse-like ground scurrying and its incredibly brief, metallic song, make it a fascinating study for naturalists.

生息地: Found in dense, unfragmented tallgrass prairies, damp meadows, and old fields with a thick ground layer of accumulated dead vegetation.

外見

This diminutive sparrow measures about 11 to 13 centimeters in length, sporting a distinctive flat-headed silhouette and a relatively large, pale grey bill. Its most striking features are its olive-green head and neck, which contrast beautifully with its rich, chestnut-brown back and wings. Fine black streaks decorate its buff-colored breast and sides, while its belly is a clean, pale white. Its wings are short and rounded, with a wingspan averaging between 16 and 20 centimeters, while its tail is notably short and pointed, giving it a compact, streamlined appearance.

界Animalia門Chordata綱Aves目Passeriformes科Passerellidae属Centronyx

Henslow'S Sparrow

カテゴリ

鳥類

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

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おもしろい事実

Henslow's Sparrows are highly sensitive to habitat size, generally requiring grass patches of at least 30 hectares to establish territories.

Their song is considered one of the shortest and least musical of all North American songbirds, often described as a metallic hiccup.

They depend heavily on 'duff'—the accumulated dead grass from previous seasons—which they use to construct and completely conceal their nests.

特殊能力

When threatened, this sparrow prefers running through dense grass like a rodent rather than flying to escape danger.

Produces a rapid, metallic 'tsi-lick' song that carries well over grassland nesting sites without drawing the attention of aerial predators.

Constructs cup nests hidden completely at ground level within thick layers of dead vegetation, shielding them from view.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 11-13 cm
翼開長: 16-20 cm
体重: 0.01-0.015 kg
寿命: 1-6 年
Top Speed: 30 km/h
一度の産卵数: 3-5
抱卵期間: 10-11 日
渡りの距離: 1200 km

食性と食事

Feeds heavily on insects such as grasshoppers and beetles during the breeding season, transitioning to grass and weed seeds during winter.

年齢による違い: Chicks are fed an exclusive diet of high-protein insects and spiders to support rapid growth, whereas adults consume more seeds outside of breeding season.