nctexasbirder
young birder
I thought i had been seeing song sparrows but they didnt really have the central breast spot, one had a short tail i think. i have been seeing them pop in and out of shrubbery next to some grass and earth...
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Whats the difference between Song and Savannah Sparrows? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter nctexasbirder
- Start date
buckskin hawk
Oklahoma Birder
Song Sparrow:
Size: 12-17 cm (5-7 in)
Wingspan: 18-24 cm (7-9 in)
Weight: 12-53 g (0.42-1.87 ounces)
Chest streaked, with spot in center.
Two thick brown stripes on sides of whitish throat (malar stripes).
Long, rounded tail.
Grayish or whitish eyebrow.
Geographically very variable: large and dark in Northwest, pale in Southwest.
Crown dark brown, separated by lighter stripe in center.
Back brown with black streaks.
Underparts whitish.
Rusty tinge on wings.
Flanks and upper chest with dusky background in dark races.
Bill brown.
Eyes dark brown.
Legs and feet dark brown to pinkish brown.
Savannah
Size: 11-15 cm (4-6 in)
Wingspan: 20-22 cm (8-9 in)
Weight: 15-28 g (0.53-0.99 ounces)
Small songbird.
Brown or grayish-brown overall.
Streaking on back, breast, and flanks.
Yellowish eyebrow stripe.
Eyebrow stripe usually yellow, or sometimes beige.
Crown has a pale stripe down the middle, except in saltmarsh populations.
Tail medium-long, notched, and all brown.
A little yellow in bend of wing (inconspicuous).
Bill horn-colored.
Legs pinkish.
Eyes dark brown.
Sorry but I forgot to site my source. Ouch! My above descriptions are from the Cornell University on-line birding guide at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/
To sum it up a Song doesn't show much, if any yellow and the bill and leg color is duller brown. Also they have the central dot on their breast. You can also go by their song if it is heard. In flight the song's tail isn't notched like the Savannah.
Size: 12-17 cm (5-7 in)
Wingspan: 18-24 cm (7-9 in)
Weight: 12-53 g (0.42-1.87 ounces)
Chest streaked, with spot in center.
Two thick brown stripes on sides of whitish throat (malar stripes).
Long, rounded tail.
Grayish or whitish eyebrow.
Geographically very variable: large and dark in Northwest, pale in Southwest.
Crown dark brown, separated by lighter stripe in center.
Back brown with black streaks.
Underparts whitish.
Rusty tinge on wings.
Flanks and upper chest with dusky background in dark races.
Bill brown.
Eyes dark brown.
Legs and feet dark brown to pinkish brown.
Savannah
Size: 11-15 cm (4-6 in)
Wingspan: 20-22 cm (8-9 in)
Weight: 15-28 g (0.53-0.99 ounces)
Small songbird.
Brown or grayish-brown overall.
Streaking on back, breast, and flanks.
Yellowish eyebrow stripe.
Eyebrow stripe usually yellow, or sometimes beige.
Crown has a pale stripe down the middle, except in saltmarsh populations.
Tail medium-long, notched, and all brown.
A little yellow in bend of wing (inconspicuous).
Bill horn-colored.
Legs pinkish.
Eyes dark brown.
Sorry but I forgot to site my source. Ouch! My above descriptions are from the Cornell University on-line birding guide at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/
To sum it up a Song doesn't show much, if any yellow and the bill and leg color is duller brown. Also they have the central dot on their breast. You can also go by their song if it is heard. In flight the song's tail isn't notched like the Savannah.
Last edited:
W.coast Raptor
North Coast Raptor
buckskin hawk said:
^ perfect.
Central dot on song sparrows chest very visible (most of the time), yellow on savanna, size of savanna vs. song always helps me in the field. Where I am from the songs are always bigger, fatter and more vocal.
buckskin hawk
Oklahoma Birder
The song diagnostics include:
Song Sparrows strong musical introductory notes, usually at least 3 notes on roughly the same pitch, VS the weak introduction to a very buzzy trill of the Savannah.
Song Sparrows strong musical introductory notes, usually at least 3 notes on roughly the same pitch, VS the weak introduction to a very buzzy trill of the Savannah.
Terry O'Nolley
Cow-headed Jaybird
I look for two quick fieldmarks to tell them apart - Yellowish lores and facial markings for Savannah Sparrow (Song Sparrow will not have that) and tail shape - Savannah's tail notched, Song's rounded.
Bill color is also usable to rule out Savannah - a Savannah will not have a gray bill but a Song Sparrow might.
And after making IDs on several of them you will come to recognize them by GISS General Impression, Size, Shape.
Savannah shorter tailed, smaller, rarely flies more than a few dozen meters at a time, flatter head, etc.
Bill color is also usable to rule out Savannah - a Savannah will not have a gray bill but a Song Sparrow might.
And after making IDs on several of them you will come to recognize them by GISS General Impression, Size, Shape.
Savannah shorter tailed, smaller, rarely flies more than a few dozen meters at a time, flatter head, etc.
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prairiemerlin
registered guy
hello,
I generally go by impression; Song is darker, (thicker and darker streaks), with a longer tail. Song usually gives me the impression of being more elongated; Savannahs always appear stubby to me. Habitat is also a clue - Savannahs are at home in bare, weedy fields, while Song Sparrows seem to prefer more brusy areas.
--Neil G.
I generally go by impression; Song is darker, (thicker and darker streaks), with a longer tail. Song usually gives me the impression of being more elongated; Savannahs always appear stubby to me. Habitat is also a clue - Savannahs are at home in bare, weedy fields, while Song Sparrows seem to prefer more brusy areas.
--Neil G.
