LeConte's Sparrow

LeConte's Sparrow, a diminutive and elusive bird, is adorned with a buffy yellow-orange visage framed by grey cheeks, and a stately dark brown crown bisected by a white central stripe. The nape is a delicate lilac grey, accented with chestnut streaks, while the back is a tapestry of brown and beige. Its underparts are a pale off-white, transitioning to a warm buffy orange-yellow across the breast and sides, adorned with dark brown streaks. The legs and feet are a subtle brownish-pink, completing the bird's understated elegance.

Identification Tips

This small sparrow boasts a relatively large head, a short grey bill, and a pointed tail that is characteristic of its kind. Its distinctive facial coloring and the white central stripe on its crown are key identifiers, setting it apart from its kin.

Habitat

LeConte's Sparrow shows a preference for moist, grassy terrains that offer ample vegetative cover. It thrives in meadows, fields, crop stubble, marshy fringes, prairies, and occasionally ventures into fens and lake-shores within the boreal forest.

Distribution

During the breeding season, LeConte's Sparrow can be found from northeastern British Columbia, sweeping across Alberta, Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, central Ontario, and into Quebec. Its range extends southward to northern Michigan, Montana, and Minnesota. In winter, it migrates to the southeastern United States, reaching as far west as central Texas and as far north as central Illinois and Missouri.

Behaviour

LeConte's Sparrow is a master of concealment, preferring the sanctuary of the ground beneath tall grasses. It is a reluctant flier, often choosing to scurry away rather than take to the air, and when it does fly, it seldom rises more than a few feet above the grass, quickly descending back into its grassy haven.

Song & Calls

The male's song is reminiscent of a grasshopper's buzz, beginning with a squeaky note and culminating in a chirp, often transcribed as "tika-zzzzzzzzzzzz-tik." Its call is a succinct "tsip," easily confused with the vocalizations of the Nelson's Sparrow.

Breeding

The breeding season may commence as early as late April, with a peak in mid-May. Males serenade potential mates from the seclusion of dense grasses or during flight. Clutches typically consist of four eggs, though they can range from two to six. The female alone incubates the eggs, while both parents contribute to feeding the young.

Similar Species

LeConte's Sparrow is often mistaken for other small sparrows, including the Nelson's Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, and Baird's Sparrow.

Diet and Feeding

In the summer, LeConte's Sparrow feeds primarily on insects such as weevils, leafhoppers, leaf beetles, stinkbugs, caterpillars, moths, and spiders. In winter, its diet shifts to seeds from grasses and weeds.

Conservation status

LeConte's Sparrow is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that, for now, this species does not face an immediate threat of extinction.

Nest

The female constructs a cup-shaped nest from fine grasses, lining it with softer grass and hair. These nests are typically anchored to standing grasses or sedges, situated on or near the ground.

Eggs

The eggs of LeConte's Sparrow are sub-elliptical, measuring 18 X 14 mm, and are white with green, grey, or blue undertones. They are adorned with fine brown dots, speckles, or splotches, often concentrated near the larger end.