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Tucson Audubon Society
Dastardly Duos
Song, Lincoln's and Swamp
Sparrows
by Larry Liese
Illustrations by George C. West
(Article first appeared in the December 2003 – January 2004 Vermilion Flycatcher
newsletter. To receive the newsletter in the mail, become a member of
the Friends of Tucson Audubon.)
With winter months come ducks and sparrows. Not much trouble telling those
two groups apart, but ahhhh ... within those groups! This month we’ll
take a look at the three sparrows of the genus Melospiza. These
three sparrows, the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Lincoln’s
Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii), and Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza
georgiana) all share some physical traits and also habitat preferences
to an extent.
Song
Sparrows are common permanent residents here in southeast Arizona, with
northern migrants (see below) augmenting their numbers in winter months.
Lincoln’s Sparrows (common) and Swamp Sparrows (rare) are here only in
the cooler months. All prefer wet habitats, though Song and Lincoln
Sparrows can be found throughout the lowlands. Swamp Sparrows are found
almost exclusively in (usually dense) riparian or pond-edge habitat.
Song Sparrows are notoriously variable among their (up to) 52 named and ~29 recognized subspecies. These can vary by up to 150% in weight. The resident group is noted for smallish size (for Song Sparrows) and light "chocolatey" colored streaking. The northern migrants seen in winter are much darker. Many a visiting birder from elsewhere in the U.S. sees one of "our" Song Sparrows and says: "That’s a Song Sparrow?"
The Lincoln’s and the Song are the only ones likely to be confused with a poor view. They are both found in dense, wet habitat, and sometimes careful viewing is needed before a good look can be had. Lincoln’s Sparrows have a buffy chest color with fine black streaking that continues down the flanks. The Song is much larger, with much heavier streaking above and below, without the buff chest color. Look for the light feathers outlining the jaw or "jowl line" on these two birds. This feature is yellowish on Lincoln’s Sparrows and white on our Song Sparrows. Both have much gray on the face and sides of the neck. Most Song Sparrows will show a clearly defined central breast spot, while the Lincoln’s only sometimes does and the Swamp’s will be blurry at best. Notice tail length and shape. Song Sparrows have a long, rounded tail, while those of the Lincoln’s and Swamp are shorter.
Swamp Sparrows are much brighter in color, notably in the rich, rusty browns on the upperparts. Their underparts have minimal streaking, which, if noticeable, will be blurry. They have a rusty-colored crown that is more solid in appearance.
Lincoln’s and Swamp Sparrows don’t vocalize much when they’re here, but Song Sparrows do. The call is a chimp note, somewhat like a Canyon Towhee but less slurred and more monosyllabic. Their song is one of those very recognizable yet hard to describe sequences of sounds. To me it comes in three parts starting with (usually) two clear notes followed by a buzzy trill, ending with a short utterance. (Doesn’t make you go "Oh yeah, I know that!" does it?) But once you get familiar with the song, you’ll be identifying Song Sparrows without even having to concentrate on them.
Look for Song and Lincoln Sparrows anywhere in the lowlands, especially where there is water. Sweetwater Wetlands is an easy place to see them. A few Swamp Sparrows winter along Patagonia Lake each year. Look for them at the edge of the cattails and bulrushes on the northeast end where the trail bends around the lake before coming to where Sonoita Creek enters. If you’re lucky, you might find one along the San Pedro River as well. Good luck!
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This page was updated on 02/21/06