Savannah Sparrow

Description:

Passerculus sandwichensis is a small American sparrow. It is the only widely accepted member of the genus Passerculus. 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. The Savannah Sparrow is a very variable species, with numerous subspecies, several of which have been split as separate species at various times. Savannah Sparrows show some variation in size across subspecies. The total length can range from 11 to 17 cm (4.3 to 6.7 in), wingspan ranges from 18 to 25 cm (7.1 to 9.8 in) and body mass from 15 to 29 g (0.53 to 1.0 oz). In the nominate subspecies, the body weight averages 20.1 g (0.71 oz). This is likely the subpecies P. sandwichensis savanna (Eastern Savannah Sparrow), breeds in the NE USA and adjacent Canada (includes P. s. mediogriseus)

Habitat:

This one was observed at constructed ponds near a creek at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center near Jackson (Aiken County), SC.

Notes:

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