Savannah Sparrow

Description:

Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is a small American sparrow. This species has a typically sparrow-like dark-streaked brown back, and whitish underparts with brown or blackish breast and flank streaking. It has whitish crown and supercilium stripes, sometimes with some yellow (more often near the beak). The cheeks are brown and the throat white. The flight feathers are blackish-brown with light brown or white border. The eyes are dark. The feet and legs are horn-colored, as is the lower part of the bill, with the upper part being dark grey.

Habitat:

These birds forage on the ground or in low bushes; particularly in winter they are also found in grazed low-growth grassland. This one was perched in marsh vegetation at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge near Hardeeville (Jasper County), SC.

Notes:

The common name comes from Savannah, Georgia, where one of the first specimens of this bird was collected.