Common Nesting Birds

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Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Photo © Anne Middleton

Song Sparrow

Photo © Sharon Beals, from the collection of The California Academy of Sciences

Song Sparrow eggs

Photo © René Corado

Song Sparrow nest

Photo © René Corado

Adult

Photo © Jonathan Irons / Macaulay Library

Adult

Photo © Sean Fitzgerald / Macaulay Library

Adult

Photo © Cameron Eckert / Macaulay Library

Adult

Photo © Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay Library

Adult

Photo © Anonymous / Macaulay Library

Adult

Photo © Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay Library

Adult

Photo © Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay Library

Juvenile

Photo © Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Adult

Photo © Ian Hearn / Macaulay Library

Habitat

Photo © Ian Hearn / Macaulay Library

Song

© Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay Library

Song

© Randolph Little / Macaulay Library

Song

© Lucas DeCicco / Macaulay Library

Song

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Song

© Jocelyn Lauzon / Macaulay Library

Song

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Flight song

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Chip calls

© Bob Hasenick / Macaulay Library

Chip calls

© Randolph Little / Macaulay Library

Tink calls

© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Bruce Rideout / Macaulay Library

Flight calls

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Juvenile calls

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

When To Look

Source: Birds of the World

Where To Find It

Source: Birds of the World

Habitats

grassland

marsh

open woodland

shrub

Substrates

ground

Bush or Shrub

What You'll Find

Nest Type

cup

Chick

Altricial

Clutch Size

1
3
5
6

Nest Height

15 ft
0 ft

Nesting Statistics

Incubation Period

12-15
days

Brooding Period

8-10
days

Useful Hints

  • The female builds the nest, working mainly during the morning.
  • Females may start but then abandon 1 or 2 (rarely 3) nests before completing the nest that eventually receives eggs.
  • For the first 4 days after hatching, the female closely broods the young.

More Resources

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology