Baird's Sparrow

Overview

Baird's Sparrow: Small sparrow with pale-streaked, rich dark brown upperparts, white underparts, and dark streaks on upper breast and flanks. Orange-brown crown is marked with fine dark lines. Legs and feet are pink-brown. Short low flights, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

Baird's Sparrow: Breeds from Saskatchewan and Manitoba south to Montana and Minnesota. Spends winters in Texas, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Commonly found in dry upland prairies.

INTERESTING FACTS

John James Audubon collected the first specimens of Baird's Sparrow in 1843 in North Dakota. The species was not recorded again for 29 years.
These birds are partially nomadic, with breeding populations shifting dramatically among locations from year to year. This tendency probably evolved in response to the effects of drought, fire, and movements of bison herds over the prairie.
They like open areas with a mix of native prairie grass blended with forbs. They are usually more abundant two to three years after a fire. As shrubs grow back, their numbers decline again.
A group of sparrows has many collective nouns, including a "crew", "flutter", "meinie", "quarrel", and "ubiquity" of sparrows.

The Baird's Sparrow is native to the United States, Canada and Mexico, covering a large span. While this bird's natural range has been reduced in size, and the population did decline during the 1970's, today the population continues to be quite strong. Currently, the population of this bird is thought to be over 1 million individual birds. Baird's Sparrow currently has a rating of Least Concern. There is not currently any concern that the global population of Baird's Sparrow will face serious threat.