Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

Year-round in CharlotteCommon

The take

The streaky sparrow that sings all year from the brushy greenway edges.

How to ID it

  • Streaky brown overall with thick streaks on a white chest and flanks
  • Head is a mix of warm red-brown and slaty gray
  • Flits through low vegetation with short, fluttering flights, pumping its tail downward

Field marks at a glance

Size
small
Head
striped red-brown and gray
Call
bright notes then a buzzy trilled jumble

Where & when

Year-round in Charlotte

Learn more

Sources