Common Nesting Birds

meet your neighbors

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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