Lincoln's Sparrow

The Lincoln's sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) is a modestly sized North American passerine, often elusive, preferring the sanctuary of dense ground cover. Its upperparts are olive-brown with dark streaks, while the underparts are a lighter brown with fine streaks, transitioning to a white belly and throat. A distinctive brown cap bisected by a grey stripe adorns its head, complemented by grey facial features, brown cheeks, and a buffy mustache stripe. Both sexes share this plumage, making them indistinguishable in the field.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Lincoln's sparrow, look for its smaller, trimmer stature compared to the song sparrow, with finer breast streaks. The juvenile resembles the juvenile swamp sparrow but lacks the unicolored crown. Key measurements include a length of 13–15 cm, a weight of 17–19 g, and a wingspan of 19–22 cm.

Habitat

This bird favors well-covered brushy habitats, often near water sources. It thrives in subalpine and montane zones, wet thickets, shrubby bogs, and mossy areas, with a preference for dense shrub cover for nesting.

Distribution

The Lincoln's sparrow breeds across Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northeastern and western United States, with a less common presence in the east. During migration, it can be found in riparian zones, plains, basins, and even urban areas. Its winter range extends from the southern United States to Mexico and northern Central America.

Behaviour

A secretive species, the Lincoln's sparrow is often heard rather than seen. Males sing a sweet, wrenlike song from perches or in flight, primarily in the morning during early breeding season. Their calls include a flat "tup" or "chip" when agitated and a soft "zeet" often preceding song.

Song & Calls

The male's song begins with rapid, high-pitched notes followed by a trill that ascends and then descends sharply. The species has a small repertoire of song types, averaging 3.7 per individual. Calls used for various interactions include a flat "chip," a soft "zeet," and a hoarse, buzzing "zrrr-zrrr-zrrr" sequence during mating and territorial disputes.

Breeding

Males arrive at breeding grounds in May, singing to attract mates. Females construct ground nests under dense cover, laying 3-5 pale green to greenish-white eggs with reddish-brown spots. Incubation lasts 12–14 days, with fledglings leaving the nest 9–12 days post-hatching and receiving parental care for an additional 2–3 weeks.

Similar Species

The Lincoln's sparrow is often confused with the song sparrow but is smaller with finer streaks. Juveniles may be mistaken for juvenile swamp sparrows but can be differentiated by the crown coloration.

Diet and Feeding

Winter diets consist mainly of small seeds, while breeding season diets shift to arthropods such as insect larvae, ants, spiders, and beetles. They forage on the ground in dense vegetation and may visit bird feeders in winter.

Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Lincoln's sparrow as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.