Project Prairie Birds

A Citizen Science Project for Wintering Grassland Birds

Selected Grassland Species in A.O.U. Check-list Order

---

Notice: Photos are copyrighted and not available for use without express written permission of Michael L. Gray at mlgray@ppco.com.

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)
Alpha code: NOBO

A plump, large-bodied bird with short tail and mottled reddish-brown upperparts. Feeds in large groups (coveys) and when flushed, the group rises straight up with loud rattling wing beats. Flies only a short distance before quickly seeking shelter in high grass or brambles. Common in fields with some brush and weeds.

Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)
Alpha code: HOLA

Note black tail with white outer edges. Plain brown upperparts, distinctive pattern of black, white and yellow on face. Usually in groups and very rarely seen singly. Prefers bare ground or mudflats, but also occurs in short, grazed pastures.

House wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Alpha code: HOWR

Drab, plain brown wren with faint eyebrow. Tail often cocked. Found in thickets and brushy patches. Unlikely to fly from brush into grass when flushed; prefers to stay in thick brushy cover. Call is a harsh, thick, buzzy scold-note.

Sedge wren (Cistothorus platensis)
Alpha code: SEWR

Small short-tailed warm-brown wren. Almost always vocalizes just prior to and/or in flight, giving a short, slurred chick-chick call. Weak flight for short distances just above grass level, often crashing into grass/shrub clumps. Appears fairly dark above with buffy-brown flanks. Prefers moist grasslands.

American pipit (Anthus rubescens)
Alpha code: AMPI

Note long black tail with white outer tail feathers. Upperparts uniformly grayish-brown with no distinguishing streaks, marks or wing bars. Often pumps tail if perched. Commonly found in sparsely vegetated wet or dry fields. Usually found in flocks (two to hundreds of individuals occurring together). Usually says its name softly “pipit, pipit” in flight.

Sprague's pipit (Anthus spragueii)
Alpha code: SPPI

Has a dark tail and white outer tail feathers, but distinguished from the above by shorter tail and by buffy-brown upperparts that have a scaly look and a streaked rump sometimes visible when flushed. This species has a prominent dark eye, more white in tail than the above and does not pump tail. When flushed, it flies high into the air in a “stair-stepping” fashion (unlike AMPI), spirals and then drops down like a falling rock back into the field. Calls when flushed from dry field edges and prefers bare to mostly bare ground. A non-flocking pipit, unlike the above; mostly solitary.

Bachman's sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis)
Alpha code: BACS

Large rich cinnamon-colored sparrow. More likely to flush well before observer is on top of bird. Strong flier that usually flies long distances a few feet off the ground landing back in the grass. A non-flocking Pineywoods specialty.

Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Alpha code: CHSP

A small, but long-tailed sparrow that occurs in flocks. Adults have a chestnut cap and a white eye brow. Young birds are streaked, but usually occur in the same flock as adults. A widespread generalist in winter; found in fields or forests; occurs at ground level or in canopy; attracted to urban settings (seed feeders) or far from human habitation.

Field sparrow (Spizella Pusilla)
Alpha code: FISP

A small, pale, flocking sparrow that occurs in weedy fields. Pale eye ring, white wing bars and bright pink bill separate this species from its relatives. Has a longish tail relative to its body.

Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Alpha code: SAVS

Likely the most abundant and widespread wintering sparrow in the more short, sparse grassy conditions. Does not wait for a close approach before flushing. Heavily streaked all over, this sparrow has a small pinkish to flesh-colored bill and pink legs. Most individuals sport yellow lores. Sometimes perches off the ground where it’s visible after flushing, but flies fairly far on initial flush.

Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
Alpha code: GRSP

A rich, buffy sparrow that flushes from tall grass. Like most members of the genus, this species waits until closely approached until flushing; would rather flee by running on ground than by flying. Variable in appearance, most individuals are buffy below with some streaking or flecking on the breast. When perched, look for an even richer brown-buff in the lores and forehead.

Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii)
Alpha code: HESP

Small dark rust-colored sparrow with an olive-yellow head. Reluctantly flushes only when observer is directly on top of bird. Weak flight just above grass level for short distances and often twists in flight just before crashing back into the grass or small shrub. Often pumps tail in flight.

Le Conte's sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii)
Alpha code: LCSP

This “golden sparrow” appears very buffy-yellow overall. Small short-tailed sparrow with a light-to-rich gold head, a light-brown back and a light, pale belly. Often flies short distances just above grass level like other members of the genus, but may fly longer distances than HESP, but not necessarily as long as GRSP (all three can be found together in winter in the same grasslands).

Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni)
Alpha code: NSTS

A dark yet colorful sparrow with buffy-orange facial marks; in fresh plumage, can be the most spectacular species of sparrow in North America. On the wintering grounds, it prefers areas with standing (very salty) brackish water with tall grass and reeds.

Seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus)
Alpha code: SESP

This very dark sparrow has a very flat-headed and large-billed appearance; resident in areas with standing (very salty) brackish water with short to medium bunch grasses like Spartina species. Most individuals have a fairly bright yellow lore. After flushing, they will typically perch up on grass blades and look around. Flies straight with rapid, shallow wingbeats. Not found far from the coast.

Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Alpha code: SOSP

Large, dark sparrow; pumps long rounded tail in flight. Breast heavily streaked with dark breast spot and thick malar streaks. Call is a loud, frequently uttered chimp. Generally associated with at least some brushy/shrubby cover, or at least patches of thick, rank grass.

Lincoln's sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
Alpha code: LISP

Relatively drab-looking in flight, but may appear slightly buffy. Wings and upperparts brownish, face with wide gray eyebrow. Breast buffy with fine streaks. Utters thick, heavy tick or thick call when disturbed, as well as a raspy zeee that is louder than SWSP. Occurs in shrubby cover, including patches of brush in otherwise grassy or weedy habitats.

Swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgina)
Alpha code: SWSP

Gray face, bright rusty wings and upperparts, lightly streaked breast. Pumps tail in flight. Calls are a sharp chip and a high-pitched seee or zeee. May be found in pure grass or associated areas with shrubs. Usually does not allow a close approach. Named for its fondness of wet, grassy, often mucky areas.

White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Alpha code: WTSP

A large, thicket-loving sparrow with rich, rusty-brown streaked upperparts, gray-brown rump and long rounded tail; poorly defined wing bars and prominent white throat. Also distinctive is the streaked crown and yellow lore of adults. First winter birds are dingy and “washed out” looking with a pale white throat and heavy streaking on breast. Often flock with other thicket species in winter when they can be heard calling/singing (i.e., a loud whistle) frequently from a dense, wet thicket or field border. Usually does not occur away from the ground under shrubs, woodlands or dense thickets. Not considered a grassland species.

The complex of:
Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella Magna)
Alpha code: EAME,
Western meadowlark (Sturnella Neglecta)
Alpha code: WEME
Alpha code: MEAD

NOTE: the two meadowlarks in winter are very difficult to distinguish when not vocalizing. Numerous flocks of WEME move eastward in winter in Texas (and beyond) and occur in close proximity to EAME. It is recommended that meadowlark, species (Alpha code: MEAD) be used if species identification is not made, especially when a bird is flushed from the ground and seen briefly in flight. Do not assume that it’s an EAME just because you’re in the “eastern” part of the U.S., especially Texas. Not determining this group to the species level is totally acceptable. These are large-bodied birds with dark brown upperparts with a reddish tinge and distinctive white outer tail feathers. When flushed, flight is labored, low and of short distance with stiff glides, almost reminiscent of NOBO but with prominent white flashes in outer tail. Commonly found in pastures, agricultural fields and wet prairies. Usually in flocks, sometimes small or even large.

---

For a complete list of alpha codes, see: the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Complete Species List.