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SPECIES ACCOUNT
SONG SPARROW
(Melospiza melodia)
Vineyard Overview: One of the most common and
widespread songbirds on Martha’s Vineyard. Song
Sparrows nest in nearly any open or semi-open
habitat type on the Island, from residential
subdivisions to woodland edges to wetlands. Nesting
pairs can be observed less than a block off of the main
streets in town centers. Song Sparrows are present
here year-round; some of our nesting birds migrate
south for the winter, while others remain on or near
their territory all year. The Island also hosts large
numbers of transient Song Sparrows during spring
and, especially, fall migration, as well as wintering
birds from populations to the north of us.
Song Sparrows are quite tolerant of human activity
and are frequent visitors at bird-feeding stations.
They nest relatively low (typically 2-10 feet above the
ground) in thick vegetation; in settled areas, they
frequently nest in landscape shrubs and even
foundation plantings. Because they are so
widespread, the mere presence of Song Sparrows is
not a useful indicator of high-quality habitat. But
their success in fledging young may suggest the
overall suitability of an area for breeding birds. If
Song Sparrows are consistently unable to fledge
young successfully, it probably indicates that the area
is deficient in dense cover and/or subject to excessive
predation pressure from cats, skunks, and birds such
as grackles and crows (all of which are associated
with human activity). And it is likely that other, more
sensitive bird species are having even less success.
Identification: Song Sparrows are small (about 5
inches long), brown-backed birds with white
Photo: Lee Carney/USFWS
underparts streaked with black. The streaking on the
breast clusters around a distinct central spot, which
may be the most useful field mark for distinguishing
this species from our many other kinds of sparrows.
Song Sparrows are readily detected and identified by
their song, which males give persistently from late
winter to mid-autumn. Though the pattern of the
song is highly variable, it always consists of an
impressive mix of trills and clear, piping notes. The
pattern of notes often suggests a human melody.
Because the pattern of notes is not consistent, you’ll
need to learn to recognize the song of this species by
its tone quality and general characteristics rather
than by a fixed sequence of notes. Nevertheless, Song
Sparrows are among the easiest birds to identify by
sound.
Ecological functions: Like most songbirds, Song
Sparrows are beneficial players in the Island ecology,
mainly through their multiple roles in the “food web.”
As a common and prolific species, Song Sparrows
represent a significant ecological factor on the
Vineyard. In spring and summer, Song Sparrows feed
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their young a diet that consists mainly of small
invertebrates: spiders, caterpillars, moths, flies,
beetles, and the like. So a family of these birds is a
powerful force for controlling arthropod populations.
Song Sparrows are occasionally taken by birds of
prey, notably Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks and
Merlins, all of which sometimes hunt around human
habitation. The eggs and nestlings of Song Sparrows
are sometimes preyed on by larger birds including
Blue Jays, Common Grackles, and American Crows.
Strategies:
1. Provide nesting habitat. Even a single bushy
evergreen, such as red cedar, can attract a nesting
pair of these adaptable birds. For less dense types of
plants, a cluster of shrubs is necessary to give
adequate concealment to a nest. Nesting success (that
is, actually fledging young) is most likely when these
birds can effectively conceal their nest deep within a
hedgerow or extensive shrubby border – so the more
dense cover you can provide, the more likely these
birds are to flourish.
2. Limit predation. Nesting fairly low and spending a
lot of time foraging on the ground, Song Sparrows
(and their eggs and young) are highly vulnerable to
predation by domestic cats. Keeping your own cats
indoors, and discouraging your neighbors’ cats from
visiting your yard, will help enhance the survival of
Song Sparrows. Predation by birds of prey, including
the loss of eggs or nestlings to large songbirds, is a
natural risk for Song Sparrows, but you should avoid
luring Song Sparrows into situations in which they
are especially vulnerable (in other words, observe
good practices in siting feeding stations; site feeders
and bird baths close to good cover, so the birds can
hide quickly if danger threatens).
3. Provide food and water. Song Sparrows rely heavily
on arthropods in the spring and summer, while seeds
constitute most of their diet during winter. So
management that encourages healthy populations of
insects benefits this bird, as do practices that favor
seed production by plants. Unmowed areas,
especially if dominated by a diverse mix of native
species, encourage Song Sparrows by supporting
insect populations and producing seeds. If you choose
to feed birds in your yard, you will find this species to
be one of your best customers. Song Sparrows will eat
out of feeders but probably prefer to eat seed that has
fallen or been placed on the ground.
Song Sparrows welcome access to fresh water for
drinking and bathing, so a pond, fountain, or bird
bath (especially if it’s heated in winter) will help
attract this species to your yard.
4. Reduce mortality from window collisions.
Comfortable around human habitation, Song
Sparrows are at risk for being injured or killed by
colliding with windows. Placing decals on windows,
to avoid the appearance that the window is empty
space, may help reduce this risk. Placing netting
outside windows is an even more effective method,
though it is more complicated to do and may not
appeal aesthetically to a homeowner.
Notes: The singing behavior of Song Sparrows has
been thoroughly studied by ornithologists and is
extremely interesting. Individual male Song Sparrows
learn a limited number of distinct songs early in their
lives, and retain that repertoire, unchanged, for their
entire lives (typically three or four years). Young male
Song Sparrows learn the song types of their father
and of males living in, or passing through, nearby
territories – so local populations of Song Sparrows
organize into “song communities” united by a
common repertoire. If you have a musical ear and pay
attention to bird song, you can easily learn to
recognize the “play list” of your local male Song
Sparrows. Then you’ll be able to notice when
individuals from elsewhere are passing through or
trying to establish territories, or when an established
male is replaced by another male.
The overall breeding range of the Song Sparrow
encompasses most of the northern and western
United States and most of Canada. A largely
migratory species, Song Sparrows range south to
northern Mexico and the southernmost U.S. in
winter. Between its vast geographical range and its
tolerance of a broad range of habitat types, the Song
Sparrow is an enormously numerous species.