Bachman's Sparrow

Overview

Bachman's Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow with brown-streaked gray upperparts and buff underparts except for white belly. Face is gray with brown crown and a thin, dark line extending back from eye. The tail is long, dark, and round-tipped. Upper mandible is dark. Legs and feet are pink.

Range and Habitat

Bachman's Sparrow: Breeds in southeastern U.S. north to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, but only very locally. Spends winters chiefly in southern Atlantic and Gulf coast states. Inhabits dry open pine or oak woods with a scattering of scrub; also frequents overgrown weedy fields and pastures.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Bachman's Sparrow was named by Audubon for his close friend Dr. John Bachman (1790-1874), who discovered the species in South Carolina.
Habitat loss is likely their largest threat. Once clearings mature through succession and understory becomes likewise degraded, their preferred habitat becomes unsuitable.
This species is the only sparrow that is endemic to the United States. They were once called the Pine-Woods Sparrow for their preference for pine woods habitat.
A group of sparrows has many collective nouns, including a "crew", "flutter", "meinie", "quarrel", and "ubiquity" of sparrows.

The Bachman's Sparrow, native to the United States, currently is rated as Near Threatened. This is a change from 2000, when it was rated as Lower Risk. The change in rating is due to a population that has steadily and rapidly declined over the last several decades. Bachman's Sparrow is predominantly found in the southern region of the United States. The only northern populations of Bachman's Sparrow are migratory. The range and the population of this species have been in decline, primarily due to forest succession.