Range. [2] They primarily use the ground and base of willows for foraging, whereas they use tall trees and willow branches for singing. Lincoln’s Sparrow. They summer in the northern United States and southern Canada. [8] Their nest is a well-covered shallow open cup of grasses or sedges. They migrate to winter in southern United States, Mexico, and northern Central America. Help power unparalleled conservation work for birds across the Americas, Stay informed on important news about birds and their habitats, Receive reduced or free admission across our network of centers and sanctuaries, Access a free guide of more than 800 species of North American birds, Discover the impacts of climate change on birds and their habitats, Learn more about the birds you love through audio clips, stunning photography, and in-depth text. On closer inspection, however, they can easily be told apart from most angles. Both parents feed the nestlings. They prefer to be near dense shrub cover and their nests are well-concealed shallow open cups on the ground under vegetation. Their breeding habitat is subalpine and montane zones across Canada, Alaska, and the northeastern and western United States, although they are less common in the eastern parts of their range. [2], In the winter, the majority of their diet consists of small seeds of weeds and grasses, but when available they will also eat terrestrial vertebrates. Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device. [2] Both calls are used in nest defense. [2] The zeet call is generally used while under dense cover, whereas the chip call is used while exposed on perches to attract attention or during antagonistic encounters. The musical song of the males is heard in summer in willow thickets of the North and the Mountain West. Nest (built by female only) is a shallow open cup of grasses or sedges, lined with fine grass and sometimes with animal hair. [2] Their migration period starts between May 13th to 30th and lasts until August 20th to September 20th. [8] One egg is laid per day, and females begin incubating eggs before the clutch is complete, while males do not incubate. Occurrence. The color scheme of a Lincoln’s Sparrow is similar to that of a Song Sparrow. Learn more. Audubon’s scientists have used 140 million bird observations and sophisticated climate models to project how climate change will affect this bird’s range in the future. [10] Incubation lasts for about 12-14 days. I photographed this little bird recently, feeding in a patch of sunflowers, part of a mixed group of birds that included a couple of White-crowned Sparrows, a dozen or so Lesser Goldfinches, and a Pine Siskin or two. It sneaks around the ground amid willow thickets in wet meadows, rarely straying from cover. This is a Lincoln’s Sparrow. National Audubon Society Seeds probably make up majority of diet, especially in winter; included are seeds of weeds and grasses. [3][5] They use lowlands such as the Great Plains and Great Basin, as well as urban and suburban habitats in the east. [2][3] The latter in males is often followed by their song. [6] However, the skulking behavior of this bird and their preference for densely-covered habitats makes it difficult to accurately describe the full range of this species. Can This Critically Endangered Bird Survive Australia's New Climate Reality? Learn more about these drawings. Overwhelmed and Understaffed, Our National Wildlife Refuges Need Help. Or take action immediately with one of our current campaigns below: The Audubon Bird Guide is a free and complete field guide to more than 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket. Though its song might conceal its sparrowness, its plumage says otherwise. Lincoln's Sparrow Range Map. However, some authors suggest that M. l. lincolnii and M. l. alticola should be considered one subspecies because of their morphological similarity. This bird is poorly documented because of its secretive nature and breeding habits solely in boreal regions. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. They have a brown cap with a grey stripe in the middle, olive-brown wings, and a narrow tail. Young are probably fed entirely on insects. Even where they are common, Lincoln's Sparrows tend to be solitary, not joining flocks. At close range, fine dark streaks within the crown stripes also become apparent. Birdist Rule #23: Identify Your First Song Sparrow. These sparrows are closely related and very similar in many respects. When it decides to pop up and sing from a willow twig, its sweet, jumbling song is more fitting of a House Wren than a sparrow. Occurrence. In winter, thickets, weeds, bushes. Lincoln's sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) is a small sparrow native to North America. [8] Fledglings are mostly flightless their first day, but their flying abilities quickly improve, and by day six they can fly more than 10 meters at a time. Speak out against the Yazoo Backwater Pumps which would drain 200,000 acres of crucial bird habitat. It lives in well-covered brushy habitats, often near water. Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. [2], Their wintering range extends from the southern United States down to Mexico and northern Central America; they are passage migrants over much of the United States, except in the west. Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii Range map Data provided by eBird. Their face is grey with brown cheeks, a buffy mustache, and a brown line through the eye with a narrow eye ring. Range. Category Sports; Show more Show less. [8] Young are born altricial and leave the nest about 9-12 days after hatching, although they may be cared for by their parents for another 2-3 weeks. Also note thin pale eyering, bright buffy breast that contrasts with white belly, and often peaked crown. [6], Lincoln's sparrow is a very secretive species; they are often not seen or heard even where they are common. They are found mainly in wet thickets, shrubby bogs, and moss-dominated habitats. [2] During the breeding season, they mainly feed on arthropods including insect larvae, ants, spiders, beetles, flies, moths, caterpillars, mayflies, and others.