Summary

Did you know?

There are 12 recognized Grasshopper Sparrow subspecies. Four of the 12 subspecies breed in North America, four reside in the Caribbean, and four are residents of Mexico, Columbia, and Ecuador (Vickery 1996).

State Ranking Justification

There were 287 probable or confirmed blocks during the second New York State Breeding Bird Atlas (McGowan and Corwin 2008). Loss of farmland and development in New York has decreased the amount of suitable breeding habitat. Partners in Flight considers Grasshopper Sparrow a "Species of Continental Importance" for the United States and Canada (Rich et al. 2004).

Short-term Trends

The distribution of the Grasshopper Sparrow has recently declined in New York as documented by the Breeding Bird Atlas and Breeding Bird Survey. There was a 42% decline in the number of atlas blocks where the species was detected from the first breeding Bird Atlas in 1980-1985 to the second in 2000-2005 (McGowan and Corwin 2008). The Breeding Bird Survey found a decline of 8.36% per year from 1966-2014 (Sauer et al. 2014). While Grasshopper Sparrows continued to be documented throughout most of the state, with the exception of high elevations, they were found in fewer blocks. Declines were less dramatic in the northeastern Great Lakes Plains in Jefferson County (McGowan and Corwin 2008).

Long-term Trends

The long-term trends in the state are unknown. However, it is likely that grasshopper sparrows became increasingly abundant with the rise of agriculture in the state in the early 20th century.

Conservation and Management

Threats

Habitat loss from declining agriculture in New York is likely the major cause of decline. The 42% decline in the distribution of Grasshopper Sparrows and the scale of agricultural loss in the state, indicate that the scope of this threat may be affecting a large percentage of the population (McGowan and Corwin 2008). The Breeding Bird Survey found a decline of 8.36% per year from 1966-2014 (Sauer et al. 2014). In addition, intense agricultural grassland management results in less suitable habitat for grasshopper sparrows in some of the remaining fields.

Conservation Strategies and Management Practices

Disturbances, such as haying, during the breeding season from mid-April to late-August should be avoided. Mowing may be the preferred habitat management practice for Grasshopper Sparrows instead of burning or grazing (Bollinger 1988). Mowing should occur either several weeks before or after the breeding season (Whitemore 1981) and every 2 to 3 years (Bollinger and Gavin 1992). Bollinger and Gavin (1992) found that birds in New York preferred old hayfields that have not been reseeded for 10 years. Grazing may be an effective management strategy if grasses are tall. This allows for a patchwork of tall and short grasses (Whitemore 1981). However, grazing can also create less suitable habitat. Kantrud and Kologiski (1982) found that lightly grazed fields had the highest densities of Grasshopper Sparrows, while moderately grazed had moderate densities and heavily grazed fields had the lowest densities. Extensive grasslands should be managed in a patchwork system. Bollinger and Gavin (1992) suggested that management of larger areas in New York should include patches that are 10-15 hectares. The mosaic of grasslands should include different successional stages. Fragmentation appears to affect the return rate and nesting success of Grasshopper Sparrows (Balent and Norment 2003). Larger fields have a higher adult return rate, more fledgling per female, and more young fledged. Smaller fields may support immigrants rather than returning birds (Balent and Norment 2003).

Research Needs

Additional research is needed to determine the best management strategies for Grasshopper Sparrows and other grassland birds to maximize grassland bird diversity in New York. Researchers have noted that a large portion of grassland bird research has taken place in western states, noting that natural prairie habitat has different vegetative characteristics compared to the hayfield habitats that are more typically used in the east (Bollinger 1995). Additional data are needed to understand grassland bird source-sink dynamics in the northeast.

Habitat

Habitat

Habitat preferences include open grasslands with some bare areas (Bollinger 1995, Whitemore 1981) that are typically far from cultivated fields, fence lines, and woods (Wiens 1969). In New York, Bollinger (1995) found Grasshopper Sparrows most frequently in old, grass-dominated hayfields with litter cover that he described as shorter, sparser, and patchier. Nests are hidden in grass.

Associated Ecological Communities

• Cropland/field crops
  An agricultural field planted in field crops such as alfalfa, wheat, timothy, and oats. This community includes hayfields that are rotated to pasture.
• Pastureland
  Agricultural land permanently maintained (or recently abandoned) as a pasture area for livestock.
• Successional old field
  A meadow dominated by forbs and grasses that occurs on sites that have been cleared and plowed (for farming or development), and then abandoned or only occasionally mowed.

Associated Species

• Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Range

New York State Distribution

Grasshopper Sparrows are found in open, grassy areas throughout most of New York State except higher elevations (generally above 2000 ft), such as the Adirondacks and Catskills. Highest concentrations are found in the northeastern Great Lakes Plain (Jefferson County).

Global Distribution

Breeding Grasshopper Sparrow are found in eastern Washington, southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, southern Ontario, southwestern Quebec, northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern Maine south to southern California, central Nevada, northern Utah, eastern Colorado, eastern new Mexico, northern Texas, Arkansas, northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and southeastern Virginia; from southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and southern Texas south to northern Sonora and northern Chihuahua; and in central Florida (Vickery 1996, AOU 1998). The main population is in the Great Plains, from North Dakota south to northern Texas, and east to Illinois (Johnson et al. 1998). The non-breeding range includes central California, southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, Texas, central Missouri, Tennessee, and North Carolina south through Mexico and Central America to northern Costa Rica and in the Bahamas and Cuba (Vickery 1996, AOU 1998). Year round residents are found in Veracruz, Chiapas, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, northwestern Costa Rica, and Panama; Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico; and in western Colombia, western Ecuador, and the Netherlands Antilles (Vickery 1996, AOU 1998).

Best Places to See

• grasslands of Jefferson County (Jefferson County)

Identification Comments

Identifying Characteristics

Adults: Grasshopper Sparrows are small, with a long bill and proportionally large, flat head, and a complete white eye ring. Birds are gray-brown above and the breast is unmarked buffy. The crown is dark with a pale central stripe. The tail is short and slightly rounded. Sibley (2000) describes northern birds with an "intricate pattern of rufous spots" on the wings and a buffy face with a dark spot on the rear auriculars. Sexes are similar. Juveniles are similar to adults except for a band of streaks on the breast.

The song is described as one or two high notes followed by a grasshopper-like buzz. Flight song is a series of short, buzzy note. The call is a double or triple ticking note. Both males and females sing.

Nests are cup-shaped and made of grasses that are well hidden on the ground. Typically, a dome is made over the nest with overhanging grasses.

Eggs are white with light, reddish-brown speckles. The clutch size ranges from three to six eggs.

Best Life Stage for Proper Identification

Adult.

Behavior

When females leave their ground nest, they hop away from it before taking flight. If they are flushed from the nest, they hop a short distance from the nest and feign injury as a distraction. Both males and females sing. Males tend to sing away from the nest (Vickery 1996).

Diet

Grasshopper Sparrows typically eat insects, especially grasshoppers, and seeds.

Best Time to See

Grasshopper Sparrows are most easily found during the breeding season from late May through July when they remain on territories and males can be heard singing. Migrants are rarely found before late April and after October in New York.

Similar Species

• Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) (guide)
  Henslow's Sparrows have an olive-ish face and a double malar stripe. They also prefer wetter grassland habitats.
• Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
  Savannah Sparrows have streaked breasts.

Grasshopper Sparrow Images

Taxonomy

Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum (Gmelin, 1789)

• Kingdom Animalia
  • Phylum Craniata
    • Class Aves (Birds)
      • Order Passeriformes (Perching Birds)
        • Family Passerellidae

Additional Resources

References

American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.

American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.

Andrle, Robert F. and Janet R. Carroll, editors. 1988. The atlas of breeding birds in New York State. Cornell University Press. 551 pp.

Balent, K. and C. J. Norment. 2003. Demographic characteristics of a Grasshopper Sparrow ( Ammodramus savannarum) population in a highly fragmented landscape in western New York. Journal of Field Ornithology 74: 341-348.

Bent, A.C., et al. 1968. Life histories of North American cardinals, grosbeaks, buntings, towhees, finches, sparrows, and allies. Part Two. U.S. National Museum Bulletin 237. (reprinted by Dover Publications, Inc., New York, NY).

Bollinger, E. K., and T. A. Gavin. 1992. Eastern bobolink populations: ecology and conservation in an agricultural landscape. Pages 497-506 in B92HAG01NAUS.

Bollinger, E.K. 1988. Breeding dispersion and reproductive success of bobolinks in an agricultural landscape. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY. 189 pp.

Bollinger, E.K. 1995. Successional changes and habitat selection in hayfield bird communities. Auk 112:720-730.

Bull, John. 1974. Birds of New York State. Doubleday, Garden City, New York. 655 pp.

Droege, S., and J.R. Sauer. 1990. North American Breeding Bird Survey, annual summary, 1989. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(8). 22 pp.

Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1992. Birds in Jeopardy: the Imperiled and Extinct Birds of the United States and Canada, Including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 259 pp.

Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.

Johnson, D. H., and L. D. Igl. 1995. Contributions of the Conservation Reserve Program to populations of breeding birds in North Dakota. Wilson Bulletin 107:709-718.

Johnson, D.H., L.D. Igl, J.A. Dechant, M.L. Sondreal, C.M. Goldade, M.P. Nenneman, and B.R. Euliss. 1998. Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Grasshopper Sparrow. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND. 12 pp.

Johnson, R.G., and S.A. Temple. 1990. Nest predation and brood parasitism of tallgrass prairie birds. Journal of Wildlife Management 54:106-111.

Kantrud, H. A. 1981. Grazing intensity effects on the breeding avifauna of North Dakota native grasslands. Canadian Field-Naturalist 95:404-417.

Kantrud, H.A., and R.L. Kologiski. 1982. Effects of soils and grazing on breeding birds of uncultivated upland g rasslands of the Northern Great Plains. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildl. Res. Rep. 15. 33 pp.

McGowan, K.J. and K. Corwin, eds. 2008. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State: 2000-2005. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 688 pp.

National Geographic Society (NGS). 1983. Field guide to the birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2023. New York Natural Heritage Program Databases. Albany, NY.

Peterjohn, B. G., J. R. Sauer, and W. A. Link. 1994. The 1992 and 1993 summary of the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Bird Populations 2:46-61.

Rich, T. D., C. J. Beardmore, H. Berlanga, P. J. Blancher, M.S.W. Bradstreet, G. S. Butcher, D. W. Demarest, E. H. Dunn, W. C. Hunter, E. E. Iñigo-Elias, A. M. Martell, A. O. Panjabi, D. N. Pashley, K. V. Rosenberg, C. M. Rustay, J. S. Wendt, T. C. Will. 2004. Partners in Flight North American landbird conservation plan. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Ithaca, NY. Online. Available: <http://www.partnersinflight.org/cont_plan/>

Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2014. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2012. Version 02.19.2014USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD

Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2005a. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2005. Version 6.2.2006. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center <http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov>, Laurel, MD

Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Smith, D. J., and C. R. Smith. 1992. Henslow's sparrow and grasshopper sparrow: a comparison of habitat use in Finger Lakes National Forest, New York. Bird Observer 20(4):187-194.

Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Vickery, P. D. 1996. Grasshopper Sparrow (AMMODRAMUS SAVANNARUM). In A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The Birds of North America, No. 239. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. 24 pp.

Whitmore, R.C. 1981. Structural characteristics of Grasshopper Sparrow habitat. Journal of Wildlife Management 45:811-814.

Wiens, J.A. 1969. An approach to the study of ecological relationships among grassland birds. Ornithological Monographs No. 8:1-93.

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About This Guide

This guide was authored by: Hollie Y. Shaw

Information for this guide was last updated on: March 27, 2014

Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2023. Online Conservation Guide for Ammodramus savannarum. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/grasshopper-sparrow/. Accessed December 8, 2023.