What Are Characteristics of the Seaside Sparrow?

The seaside sparrow is a small bird in the New World sparrow family, Emberizidae. It belongs to the genus Ammodramus, or grassland sparrows, and is related to the grasshopper sparrow and Henslow's sparrow. A number of different subspecies of seaside sparrow are known, some of which are endangered and some that are recently extinct such as the dusky seaside sparrow.

  1. Physical Description

    • The seaside sparrow is a small bird that grows to between 5 and 6 inches tall with a wingspan of 7 to 8 inches; it weighs up to 1 oz. and is olive-gray in color with small variations of shade, giving a slightly mottled effect. The birds have slight yellow markings around the eyes, shoulders and chest which are present in both males and females. It has a short spiked tail shape and a large beak compared to its head size.

    Habitat and Range

    • The birds are found along the east coast of the U.S. from New England to northern Florida during the summer breeding season. In the winter, it lives in the coastal regions of Florida and west along the Gulf coast as far east as Texas. The birds live in salt marsh areas near the coast with an abundance of tall sturdy grasses and reeds in which to nest and perch. The birds tend to feed in open areas away from their salt marsh habitats.

    Diet and Dangers

    • The seaside sparrow is an insectivore and eats mainly soft-bodied insects such as crickets, spiders and caterpillars, which it plucks from low-lying foliage. It also feeds on small marine invertebrates like small shrimp as well as a range of seeds which it will probe in the mud and dirt to find with its large beak. Predation by feral dogs and cats is a threat to the small birds as are unusual tidal and flooding patterns that destroy salt marsh habitats.

    Life Cycle

    • Males and females reach the breeding areas about a week apart with the males arriving first to establish territory. The birds pair off and build a small nest of grass fronds and stems in the tall marsh grasses. The females lays two to five eggs which both parents incubate. Once the eggs hatch both parents feed the young, which stay in the nest for nine to 11 days before fledgling. Couples can often produce two clutches every year.