(Ammospiza nelsoni)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N3B, N5N - Vulnerable Breeding and Secure Nonbreeding S3B - Vulnerable Breeding |
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Minnesota | Special Concern Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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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. |
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Size |
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5″ to 6″in length 7″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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The song is a series of three insect-like buzzes: long high – short high – long low; entire call lasting less than two seconds. It has been compared to the sound of steam escaping under pressure. |
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The call is a single, insect-like, warbling buzz, lasting about a second. |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Sedge meadows, wet prairies, grass or sedge marshes with tall shoreline vegetation |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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Late August to mid-October |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Insects, spiders, and other invertebrates in the summer, seeds in the winter. |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Rare to uncommon migrant, rare breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Passeriformes (perching birds) | ||
Family |
Passerellidae (New World sparrows) | ||
Genus |
Ammospiza (marsh 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 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 (Ammospiza nelsoni). In 2009 the common name was simplified to Nelson’s Sparrow. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Atlantic Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni subvirgatus) James Bay Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni alter) Interior Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni nelsoni) |
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Synonyms |
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Ammodramus nelsoni |
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Visitor Photos |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows | ||
Nelson's Sparrow Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren |
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"Interior" Nelson's Sparrow JMC Nature Photos |
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Visitor Videos | |||
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Other Videos | |||
Nelson's Sparrow (Great Bay Blvd WMA/Tuckerton) Brian Henderson |
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About
Published on Oct 20, 2014 Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) at Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area in Tuckerton, Ocean county, New Jersey. Shot through a spotting scope. Recorded October 18, 2014. |
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Nelson's Sparrow WIld Bird Video Productions |
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About
Uploaded on Jun 11, 2011 Nelsons sparrow singing in a Maine slatmarsh. © 2011 Garth McElroy License at http://www.paya.com/videos/135210 |
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Nelson's Sparrow singing Mike Burrell |
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About
Published on Jun 29, 2013 This male Nelson's Sparrow was singing at the top of a small shrub in a sedge marsh having just arrived during the night. |
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Nelson's Sparrow with song Brian Mortimer |
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About
Published on Aug 17, 2013 This is one of many Nelson's Sparrows that I found in the salt marsh behind Rushton's Beach, Nova Scotia in July 2013. |
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Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow Doug Hitchcox |
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About
Uploaded on Nov 17, 2008 Taken at the Scarborough Marsh (Maine) |
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Visitor Sightings |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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