Nelson’s Sparrow

Rare to uncommon migrant, rare breeder

The face, breast, sides, and flank are orangish-buff. The cheek, central crown stripe, and nape of the neck are gray. The chin is light buff. The back is gray with brown stripes. The underparts are finely streaked. The tail is not notched.

A series of three insect-like buzzes: long high – short high – long low; entire call lasting less than two seconds.

A single, insect-like, warbling buzz, lasting about a second.

Insects, spiders, and other invertebrates in the summer, seeds in the winter.

Late August to mid-October

What’s in a Name?
This species and Saltmarsh Sparrow were originally thought to be one species, Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus). In 1998, the species was split. The Saltmarsh Sparrow retained its scientific name and this species became Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni). In 2009 the common name was simplified to Nelson’s Sparrow.

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.

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