Alternative name: Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
- Ammospiza caudacuta
Ammodramus caudacutus
Identification
Adults have brownish upperparts with grey on the crown and nape, a cream-coloured breast with dark streaks and a white throat and belly; they have an orange face with grey cheeks and a short pointed tail. (A few have stronger colors on breast but still show strong streaking).
Similar species
Similar to the Nelson's Sparrow but has a white throat separated from the orange face by a dark streak (uniformly orange in Nelson's) and more streaking on the breast. Please see references for a link to more discussion of id.
Distribution
An inhabitant of the coastal saltmarsh of North America's Atlantic coast. Breeds in the north, and winters in the south. Resident in between.
Taxonomy
This is a polytypic species[1], consisting of two subspecies:
- A. c. caudacuta:
- Marshes of southern Maine to southern New Jersey; winters to southern Florida
- A. c. diversa:
- Coastal southern New Jersey to North Carolina; winters to Florida Gulf Coast
Habitat
Salt marshes.
Behaviour
Breeding
They build an open cup nest above the high tide line.
Diet
The diet includes insects, aquatic invertebrates and seeds.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Birdforum thread discussing identification of Saltmarsh from Nelson's Sparrow
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Saltmarsh Sparrow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Saltmarsh_Sparrow
