Henslow’s Sparrow

(Centronyx henslowii)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

NT - Near Threatened

NatureServe

N3B, N4N - Vulnerable Breeding, Apparently Secure Nonbreeding

S1B - Critically Imperiled Breeding

Minnesota

Endangered

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
 
Description

Henslow’s Sparrow is a shy bird more often heard than seen, most often seen after being heard. It has a large, flattened head and a short, deeply notched tail. The face, the nape of the neck, and the central crown stripe are all olive green. A dark line from the base of the bill to the breast is a “whisker” stripe. The breast, sides, and flanks are finely streaked.

 

Size

5 to 5½ in length

6½ wingspan

 

Voice

A two note, weak, “see-lick”, sounding much like a cricket.

 

Similar Species

Baird’s Sparrow (Centronyx bairdii) has a buff-colored head and a long tail.
Habitat

Breeding: Grassy areas more than 250 acres in size with a significant litter layer of matted dead vegetation and scattered shrubs or other standing herbs

Ecology

Migration

 

 

Nesting

 

 

Food

Crickets, short-horned grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, butterfly larvae, bees, and seeds.

Distribution

Occurrence

Rarely seen migrant, uncommon, local, and irregular breeder

 

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy

Class

Aves (birds)

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)

Family

Passerellidae (New World sparrows)

Genus

Centronyx (Baird’s and Henslow’s sparrows)

   

New World sparrows were traditionally combined with buntings into the family Emberizidae. Recent phylogenetic analysis (Barker et al. 2013) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis (Klicka et al. 2014) found that the Old World buntings should be separated as a sister to New World sparrows. New World sparrows have been separated into a new family, Passerellidae.

This species was formerly classified as Ammodramus henslowii. Molecular studies in 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, and 2016 indicated that Henslow’s sparrow is closely related to Baird’s Sparrow, and neither belonged in the genus Ammodramus. The two species were recently placed in their own genus Centronyx.

   

Subordinate Taxa

Eastern Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii susurrans)

Western Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii henslowii)

   

Synonyms

Ammodramus henslowii

Nemospiza henslowii susurrans

Passerherbulus henslowii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Slideshows

Henslow's Sparrow
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Henslow's Sparrow

Henslow's Sparrow
Ed McVicker

Henslow's Sparrow

 

slideshow

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Other Videos

Henslow's Sparrow
Lang Elliott

About

Uploaded on Feb 6, 2010

The Henslow's Sparrow is an inconspicuous little brown bird that inhabits grassy meadows in the Midwest and portions of the East. It's song is an extremely high-pitched, metallic "tsi-di-lick" that reminds one of the chirp of a cricket. Described by Roger Tory Peterson as "one of the poorest vocal efforts of any bird," the song transforms into a delightful musical cascade when slowed down to about one-quarter speed.

© 2010 Lang Elliott & Bob McGuire
The Music of Nature
musicofnature.org

Henslow's Sparrow
eBirdr Channel

About

Published on May 24, 2014

This sparrow is becoming rare and local in weedy fields. Eastern and central United States; southern Ontario. It is a short-tailed and flat-headed sparrow with a big pale bill. Breast is finely streaked. It has a striped crown and olive head. The wings are reddish.

It is secretive and may be overlooked but for its distinctive voice.
The song is a hiccuping unmusical "sslick".

Henslow's Sparrow
Stoil Ivanov

About

Uploaded on Jul 11, 2010

Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii ) singing in Goose Lake Prairie State Park Illinois . This is very secretive and unremarkable sparrow. Mostly seen when sings.

Henslow's Sparrow on the Prairie
Danny Brown

About

Published on Jun 8, 2013

A Henslow's sparrow sings its simple song on the prairie at Shaw Nature Reserve in Missouri.

Henslow's Sparrow Habitat in Georgia
GeorgiaWildlife

About

Published on Apr 8, 2015

Wildlife biologist Todd Schneider talks about why Henslow's sparrow habitat is important to a variety of wildlife species and rare plants in Georgia on a recent visit to Paulks Pasture WMA. Learn more about conserving nongame wildlife in Georgia at http://georgiawildlife.com/conservation/AnnualReport,

 

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