Minnesota Seasons - Henslow’s Sparrow


Conservation Status	IUCN Red List	NT - Near Threatened	No Image Available

	NatureServe	N3B, N4N - Vulnerable Breeding, Apparently Secure Nonbreeding S1B - Critically Imperiled Breeding

	Minnesota	endangered Species in Greatest Conservation Need

Occurrence	Rarely seen migrant, uncommon, local, and irregular breeder
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

Size	5″ to 5½″ in length 6½″ wingspan

Identification	This 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.

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

Similar Species	Baird’s Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) has a buff-colored head and a long tail.

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

Nesting

Migration

Comments	Taxonomy The taxonomic arrangement below follows Sibley/Monroe World List of Bird Names. It is based on DNA relationships and is being adopted by a growing number of ornithologists worldwide, including National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)³⁴. The rearrangement has been adopted in part by the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU). However, the AOU has not adopted the rearrangement of New World sparrows. In the Sibley/Monroe arrangement, the family Emberizidae (buntings, American sparrows, and relatives) is merged with the family Fringillidae (finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers) and Emberizinae and Fringillinae are subfamilies. Molecular studies suggest that Henslow’s sparrow is closely related to Baird’s Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), and that the two species should be placed into their own genus. Avibase lists this species as Centronyx Ammodramus.

Taxonomy	Order:	Passeriformes (perching birds)
	Superfamily:	Passeroidea
	Family:	Fringillidae (finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers)
	Subfamily:	Emberizinae
	Tribe:	Emberizini

Subordinate Taxa	Eastern Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii susurrans) Western Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii henslowii)

Synonyms	Centronyx Ammodramus Passerherbulus henslowii


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	Henslow's Sparrow Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren


	Henslow's Sparrow Ed McVicker

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	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 (Ammodramus 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,