Bell’s Sparrow

Hiding amongst shrubs, or perched upon high branches, the Bell’s Sparrow is quite the fascinating creature, although a little shy. They are homely bodies, with 3 out of their 5 subspecies preferring to stay at their habitat all year round and skipping out on migration season. 

About Bell’s Sparrows

The noun “bell”, comes from the natural name of this species “Artemisiospiza belli”, is an ode to an individual by the name of John Graham Bell, an American taxidermist. He had traveled with John James Audubon, a very well-known and renowned ornithologist. As a result, the Bell’s Sparrow was named in honor of John Graham Bell.

When they do come out of their home; however, you’ll find them out and about, foraging for tasty spiders, grasshoppers, mustard seeds, and grass seeds to feed themselves. Singing songs from the top of a tall shrub, hopping alongside the ground, or sounding alarm calls to alert their fellow birdlings.

We’ve compiled all the information you’ll need to track down these marvelous birds and observe them in their natural states. These are some of the topics you’ll find covered, that will be a great aid in your bird-watching endeavors: 

● Bell’s Sparrows Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Bell’s Sparrows Size, Eating behavior, Habitat
● Bell’s Sparrows Range and Migration, Nesting

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Bell’s Sparrow Color Pattern

The color patterns of Bell’s Sparrows do not display any significant differences between the sexes. They are grayish brown, with noticeably grayer heads. Their upper parts range from gray to grayish brown and are somewhat pale. Bell’s Sparrow backs and wings are a staunch brown, and their throats are adorned with black stripes at the sides. Their sides are dusted with gray, with streaks of a dusky shade. The tail of Bell’s Sparrows provides a huge visual contrast compared to the rest of their bodies. They are a dark black-and-brown mix, with the tip of the outer feathers sometimes appearing as a paler shade.

Description and Identification

Hatchlings of the Bell’s Sparrows species spot a yellow bill and gape. After a period of around 23 days or so, the color of the bill mutates into a grayish brown. The gape retains its original color, with a bright shade of red around the mouth.

Across all age groups of Bell’s Sparrows, they have hazel brown irises with very thin eye-ring and brown feet. The hatchlings have feet that appear to have a color mix of orange and yellow. Their eyes have a white spot over the front, and sometimes a small, thin white streak in the middle of their forehead. Bell’s Sparrow underparts have a coat of a staunch shade of white. Their chests often have a dark spot in the center. 

They’re often confused with Sagebrush Sparrows, as they retain a very identical appearance and weight. However, with a closer look, one can ascertain that Bell’s Sparrows adorn darker malar than their heads, and have thicker malar strips as well, in comparison to the malar and malar strips of Sagebrush Sparrows. 

You’ll find them most commonly in their most favored habitats, such as coastal sagebrush in southern California and Baja, twitching their tails in a nervous dance in an upward and downward motion, similar to Phoebes. Their calls are quite metallic in sound, which stands them out from other similar-looking bird species. The easiest way to spot them is to be on the lookout during early morning hours in the breeding season, as that is when they expose themselves the most. Male Bell’s Sparrows will sit upon tall shrubs and open land, singing enthusiastically to attract the gaze of others.

Bell’s Sparrow Song

Bell’s Sparrows are known to perch up energetically, before releasing an onslaught of songs, that have been described as metallic sounding. Song development for these birds begin early in their lives. “twee-si-tity-slip”, “tik”, “tik-tik” are some of the different ways the calls of Bell’s Sparrows have been noted down in text format. The shorter and more abrupt versions of these calls are categorized as their alarm calls, sounded when threatened. 

Songs from Bell’s Sparrows are said to be short and abrupt sequences of multiple trills interspersed with brief and repetitive chip noises, each one lasting for around 2 seconds. They are only performed by males, and most often during the breeding season. Each male performing only one type of song, varied by changing the last syllables. Males perform songs not only to attract mates but in an act of bravery in order to defend their territory. 

Bell’s Sparrow Size

For being songbirds, Bell’s Sparrows are relatively smaller than their brethren. In comparison to other Sparrows, however, they are moderately sized. They are anywhere between 4.7-5.8 inches in length and weigh about 0.5-0.8 pounds. Due to their measurements, they are often confused with Sagebrush Sparrows, who are very similar in length and weight on average.

Bell’s Sparrow Behavior

Bell’s Sparrows spend most of their lifespan on the surface of the ground. When moving along the ground, which mostly occurs during foraging times, they tend to walk or hop, sometimes pausing to scratch their feet. They hold their tail up and twitch it in an up-and-down motion while perching in shrubs or standing still on the ground. They tend to forage in small flocks if they are not nesting. Apart from foraging times or when singing (which is an activity only partaken by the males of the species), then they tend to hide away, keeping a low profile. While crossing open areas, Bell’s Sparrows will make mad dashes towards their destination, holding their tail up high. They are often moving shrub to shrub, which is what makes it slightly difficult for people to spot these birds, despite being a fairly common species.

Flights of this species present a choppy and heaving motion when they are short distance. While making their landing, they drop rapidly, out of sight, and hide once again. Bell’s Sparrows are quite a peaceful species. Fighting has rarely been seen amongst individuals of flocks. 

Bell’s Sparrow Diet

Seeds and insects are the main items you’ll spot Bell’s Sparrows foraging, as they make up a majority of their diets. Grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders, are just a few of the insects that they tend to eat for nourishments. With seeds, they eat what they can get, including seeds of shrubs, grasses, pigweeds, and mustards. Plants are commonly found in the habitats they reside in. Hatchlings are restricted to a diet largely comprised of insects. 

While these are noted as the food most commonly consumed, the amount can vary depending on the season. During breeding seasons, adult Bell’s Sparrows were found to consume larger amounts of animal prey, in comparison to seeds, whose consumption fell to a minuscule amount. The availability of food sources also plays a huge factor in the diets of this species, as periods of heavy rain will result in the growth of the availability of seeds, making them easier to forage for.

They will sometimes drink from water sources, but they obtain most of the hydration they require for survival through the vegetation and insects they consume in their daily diet. 

Bell’s Sparrow Habitat

Bell’s Sparrows live in areas populated with a number of shrubs, and semi-open habitats. California and Baja California are their ideal places of habitat, including and not limited to the Mojave Desert and San Clemente Island in California. They can be spotted on foothills and coastal slopes, and during the winter season, they may be located in deserts with a dispersed brush. 

A majority of these species tend to stick to their place of residence all year round. However, a couple of individuals are shown to have migrated towards western Arizona and southern California. 

Range and Migration

Out of the 5 subspecies of Bell’s Sparrows that have been categorized so far, only 2 are shown to have displayed migratory behavior. Compared to the canescens subspecies, the nevadensis subspecies have broader migratory ranges and travel much farther north than the former.

Nevadensis travel in tiny flocks ranging from anywhere between 3 to 10 individuals, and often visit sagebrush-covered areas located in plains. They arrive at the region of their breeding grounds in early May or mid-March, with the latest arrival being recorded in late April, although, not very common.

Canescens go through their breeding season in early spring and travel up-slope afterward. During the tail-end of the summer and fall seasons, they move southward and eastward towards their wintering grounds.

Bell’s Sparrow Lifecycle

A typical brood for Bell’s Sparrows ranges anywhere from 2 to 5 eggs. The laid eggs have colored a shade of whitish-blue, sometimes heavier on the blue. They are spotted with gray, black, and brown. The incubation, performed by the females, lasts for around 10 to 16 days, and after the first crack of the shell occurs, the hatchings fully emerge within 24 hours. If by chance, the incubating females leave the nest unsupervised, the males will temporarily take over incubation until their return.

Both parents take part in feeding the young ones, who eventually leave their nest after about 9 to 11 days post-hatching. The skin of hatchlings appears to be a mix of orange and yellow, with their bills completely coated in yellow. Their eyes remain closed, till around 4 to 5 days have passed. When the shrub their nest is located in is disturbed, the nestlings attempt to protect themselves by huddling down. After 6 to 7 days post-hatching, the nestling signal out begging calls for food. 

Bell’s Sparrows tend to lay at least 2 broods a year. They occasionally, may lay up to a total of 3 broods. 

Nesting

The nests of Bell’s Sparrows are typically built from a variety of different twigs, sticks, weeds, and fine dry grass, usually available in abundance in accordance with their habitat. The nest may be placed near the ground, hidden within low shrubs. Males of the species take upon the task of defending the nest location, using their songs to ward off predators and sound alarm calls. 

While the males stand guard, the females are tasked with building the nest. The nesting territory of these birds usually remains the same, returning to that very area every nesting season. Nests are built around the middle of February to the middle of June, depending on the location.

Anatomy of a Bell’s Sparrow

Bell’s Sparrows have little to no difference in terms of appearance between sexes. They are considered medium-sized sparrows yet small songbirds, fitted with short and round heads, and short bills. Their tails are quite long, standing out as a key point in their appearance, especially when they raise them high. 

Final Thoughts

Bell’s Sparrows have only been recently designated their own species, previously having been grouped with Sagebrush Sparrows, sharing the species name of Sage Sparrows. That gives us all the more reason to throw a spotlight on these overlooked critters, who have a plethora of interesting attitudes and behaviors they display, that
provide for a fun and entertaining bird-watching experience.

The trip to the Californian Coast Ranges or the western slops of the Sierra Nevada may be a daunting one, but definitely worth it to listen to the sweet songs of these birds or the quirky twitching of their tails as they jitter them up and down. Just a quick peek at areas sparse with shrubs might get you a glimpse of these bustling little creatures, resting comfortably in their nests or feeding their hatchlings. 

As a majority of Bell’s Sparrows are not of the migratory type, it’s quite convenient for the average bird watcher to pop by their natural habitat and observe them any time of the year.

Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At the Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying Bell’s Sparrows

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Bell’s Sparrows are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Bell’s Sparrow Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Bell’s Sparrow. We sell a monthly subscription sticker pack. The sticker packs have 12 bird stickers. These sticker packs will help your kids learn new birds every month.

Bird Feeders For Bell’s Sparrows

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Bird Houses For Bell’s Sparrows

There are many types of bird houses. Building a bird house is always fun but can be frustrating. Getting a bird house for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. If you spend a little extra money on bird houses, it will be well worth every penny and they’ll look great.