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This non-breeding plumaged adult was photographed in Saylorville, Iowa. | This non-breeding plumaged adult was photographed in Saylorville, Iowa. | ||
A large, long-tailed sparrow. Approximately 7.5 to 8 inches in length. In structure, this species resembles other members of the genus Zonotrichia with long tail and rather stout head and body. Breeding Harris's Sparrows have distinctive plumage, with black crowns, faces, and throats. A thin black line extends behind the eye, widening as it curls behind the gray cheek patch. Supercilium and the sides of the neck are also ashy gray. The rump is solid gray, contrasting with boldly streaked wings and back. The belly is white. Bill is entirely pink. Adults lose some of their gray coloration in winter, acquiring more brownish color on the face; throat sometimes shows white in the winter. Immature Harris's Sparrows in their first winter resemble dull winter adults, but show even more extensive brown on their faces and crowns (very little black), and more purely white on their throats. | A large, long-tailed sparrow. Approximately 7.5 to 8 inches in length. In structure, this species resembles other members of the genus Zonotrichia with long tail and rather stout head and body. Breeding Harris's Sparrows have distinctive plumage, with black crowns, faces, and throats. A thin black line extends behind the eye, widening as it curls behind the gray cheek patch. Supercilium and the sides of the neck are also ashy gray. The rump is solid gray, contrasting with boldly streaked wings and back. The belly is white. Bill is entirely pink. Adults lose some of their gray coloration in winter, acquiring more brownish color on the face; throat sometimes shows white in the winter. Immature Harris's Sparrows in their first winter resemble dull winter adults, but show even more extensive brown on their faces and crowns (very little black), and more purely white on their throats. | ||
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The song is a series of one to three high, clear whistles on a single pitch. One common call note is a loud 'chip'; alarm note is somewhat harsher. A distinctive ground-nesting songbird, Harris's Sparrows are the largest sparrows in North America besides Towhees. | The song is a series of one to three high, clear whistles on a single pitch. One common call note is a loud 'chip'; alarm note is somewhat harsher. A distinctive ground-nesting songbird, Harris's Sparrows are the largest sparrows in North America besides Towhees. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
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==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
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[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 09:37, 20 August 2007
- Zonotrichia querula
Identification
This non-breeding plumaged adult was photographed in Saylorville, Iowa. A large, long-tailed sparrow. Approximately 7.5 to 8 inches in length. In structure, this species resembles other members of the genus Zonotrichia with long tail and rather stout head and body. Breeding Harris's Sparrows have distinctive plumage, with black crowns, faces, and throats. A thin black line extends behind the eye, widening as it curls behind the gray cheek patch. Supercilium and the sides of the neck are also ashy gray. The rump is solid gray, contrasting with boldly streaked wings and back. The belly is white. Bill is entirely pink. Adults lose some of their gray coloration in winter, acquiring more brownish color on the face; throat sometimes shows white in the winter. Immature Harris's Sparrows in their first winter resemble dull winter adults, but show even more extensive brown on their faces and crowns (very little black), and more purely white on their throats.
The song is a series of one to three high, clear whistles on a single pitch. One common call note is a loud 'chip'; alarm note is somewhat harsher. A distinctive ground-nesting songbird, Harris's Sparrows are the largest sparrows in North America besides Towhees.
Distribution
The Harris's Sparrow is the only songbird whose breeding range is restricted to Canada. They are most commonly observed on their wintering grounds in the plains of the south-central United States.
