Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis

*Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)* is one of the most common grassland breeding sparrows in the United States; it nests over much of the North American continent and winters over the southern states and Mexico. The species is highly variable in plumage and bill size from different areas of the country and a number of subspecies are recognized. The first photo on this page is of a wintering bird taken at Anahuac N.W.R., Chambers Co., Texas in April, 1999, with a Canon EOS 1N and EF 600mm F4L lens on Fuji Sensia.
The individual on the right is a breeding bird from Sheridan Co., Montana, in June, 2001. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 3 and an EF 600mm F4L lens and 1.4X extender.
This image shows a wintering bird in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in February, 2003. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS D60 and a 500mm F4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The Savannah Sparrow shown here was at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in November, 2005. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The image here, from December, 2005, is also of a wintering bird in Austin, Travis Co., Texas.The samephoto equipment was used as in the previous image.
The Savannah Sparrow perched on the barbed wire fence was near Lake Kissimmee, Osceola Co., Florida, in March 2007. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and an EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The Savannah Sparrow shown here was at Red Rocks Lake N.W.R., Beaverhead Co., Montana, in June, 2007. The image was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The next 6 images show Savannah Sparrows on the nesting grounds at Medicine Lake N.W.R., Sheridan Co., Montana, in June, 2007. These shots were taken with the same equipment as described just above.





The Savannah Sparrows in the next 5 shots were wintering birds in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, that had not yet left for the breeding grounds. These 5 shots were taken in April, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.




The Savannah Sparrow shown here was wintering in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in January, 2009. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 800mm F/5.6 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The next 6 shots of Savannah Sparrow were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in early April, 2009, with the same photo gear described above. These birds will soon depart for breeding grounds to the north of Texas.



The bird shown here is preening its wing.

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis probably Belding's race North Jetty, Mission Bay, San Diego, San Diego Co., California 14 November 2013
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis probably Belding's race North Jetty, Mission Bay, San Diego, San Diego Co., California 14 November 2013
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis probably Belding's race North Jetty, Mission Bay, San Diego, San Diego Co., California 14 November 2013
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis probably Belding's race North Jetty, Mission Bay, San Diego, San Diego Co., California 14 November 2013
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis probably Belding's race North Jetty, Mission Bay, San Diego, San Diego Co., California 14 November 2013
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co., Texas 29 March 2015
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Anahuac N.W.R., Chambers Co., Texas 18 April 2016
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Anahuac N.W.R., Chambers Co., Texas 6 April 2017
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Bell Springs Road, Hays Co., Texas 23 December 2017
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Bell Springs Road, Hays Co., Texas 23 December 2017
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Bell Springs Road, Hays Co., Texas 23 December 2017
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis near Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas 6 January 2018
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Anahuac N.W.R., Chambers Co., Texas 5 March 2018