Seaside Sparrow

The Seaside Sparrow is a fascinating creature. They gravitate towards marshes and brackish areas and some ecologists even use their population density as a measure for ecological integrity for certain kinds of marshes. Their decision to choose certain habitats is highly sensitive to the changes in ecology, and the Dusky Seaside Sparrow is now extinct, likely due to habitat modifications in east-central Florida.

About Seaside Sparrows

Interestingly, they migrate at night and can occasionally be seen hitting man-made structures such as lighthouses and communication towers. Now that we have piqued your interest, let us waste no time in getting to know these birds! In this blog, you will learn about:

● Seaside Sparrow Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Seaside Sparrow Size, Eating behavior, Habitat
● Seaside Sparrow Range and Migration, Nesting

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Seaside Sparrow Color Pattern

Seaside Sparrows have weakly patterned plumages. Populations living on the northern and central Atlantic Coasts have dorsal sides predominantly colored a grayish olive shade, and populations native to the Everglades have yellowy olive dorsal colorations. As we move to the south, in Texas, the A. m. senetti populations have greenish olive dorsal colorations while that of Floridan subspecies are black. These birds have distinct yellow spots on their supraloral regions (between the eyes and the bill). Their “mustache” stripes have striking contrast with their white throats and pale buffy malar stripes. These birds do not have wing bars. The edges of their wings are yellow.

Seaside Sparrows have distinct stripes of gray, brownish-black, and black on their breasts, sides, and flanks.

The wear of a plumage affects the birds’ colors and patterns, as is observable in most Sparrows. In the later parts of summer, the birds appear faded, their feathers appear clipped, and their plumages’ pattern fades almost fully. In the spring, their Definitive Prealternate Molt does not change their plumage appearance.

Juveniles have buffier plumages than adults, with supraloral stripes a pale buff shade. They lack the rufous patches on their wings, but have distinct streaks on their undersides, against a buffy hue.

Their conical bills are described as “dual-toned”, meaning that the tip, tomia and ventral surfaces of the mandibles are the lightest, while the dorsal areas of the maxilla are deep black to dark, cool brown. Seaside Sparrow gapes are usually pinkish brown, and Juveniles have yellowish gapes.

Their irises are brown. Adult Seaside Sparrows have dark brownish olive or grayish horn legs and feet, with foot pads the shade of Prout’s brown. Nestlings have pinkish brown feet.

Description and Identification

These birds have notably unique plumages and exclusive habitats, and so they are seldom confused for other species of birds. However, at first glance, identification can be confusing to an amateur bird enthusiast, so let us make some distinctions! The Saltmarsh Sparrows have a similar color palette to Seaside Sparrows, but the latter are larger, grayer, and their head and body markings are comparatively less distinct than the former. Their Juveniles are especially difficult to distinguish from each other, but keep in mind that Juvenile Seaside Sparrows are larger and browner than Juvenile Saltmarsh Sparrows, which are predominantly of an ochraceous buff shade.

Seaside Sparrow Song

Seaside Sparrows have various calls that they emit for different purposes. Their primary song is a complex combination of different vocalizations- clicks, buzzes, trills and tonal figures. Tonal figures are whistly noises in the form of warbles, strokes and constant pitch noises that last up to 60 milliseconds. The primary song can last for 1-
1.5 full seconds, and is often so complex and fast that the human ear struggles to identify the different elements.

Northern Seaside Sparrows of the subspecies A. m. maritima start their primary song with a short, low trill that has 4-6 clicks, and follow it with one wide-frequency note, and a central, coarse trill phrase. The vocalizations of the primary song vary minorly across populations of subspecies, but usually end with a characteristic terminal buzz.

The geographic variations in song are largely attributed to the various vegetative structures of the habitats. The lowest pitch was by Seaside Sparrows belonging to Long Island, New York. The subspecies A. m. nigrescens and A. m. mirabilis have the simplest primary songs out of all the populations, which consist only of clicks and buzzes.

The primary song is exclusive to males of the species. They let out this song with elevated, thrown back and open bills. During their bouts they emit these calls every 6 seconds.

Males also let out a muted song, comparable to a whisper. Their bills remain closed for this. The adult males also have a well-structured flight song, which lasts 3 to 4 seconds long and is a combination of si and tuck sounds that they sing while ascending in the air to 16.4 to 49.21 feet above the ground. At their highest point, they let out the full sequence of their primary song and may add a few other notes as well.

Seaside Sparrow Size

The average length of both sexes’ ranges from 5.1 to 5.9 inches, and their average weight ranges from 0.7 to 1.0 ounce. Their average wingspan can be anywhere from 7.1 to 7.9 inches.

Seaside Sparrow Behavior

These Sparrows move around primarily by walking and running on the ground. They can deftly wade in the water. While crossing uneven or rough surfaces, or while moving from stem to stem, they hop. They also climb upwards on small vegetation. Typical to the Sparrow family, they fly directly and strongly over long distances. Their wingbeat tempo has a slight hesitancy, that can give their flight trajectory a jerky or jagged path. When they fly around their nests, their flight paths are distinctly irregular and jerky, with their posterior bodies pumping with an up-and-down arc. However, their flights during circling chases are rapid and determined, with regular wingbeat tempo and level trajectory. Their wingbeat also remains rapid and regular during their displays of ascent of flight, usually accompanied by song. Juvenile seaside sparrows are habitually hesitant, and they usually crash by clumsily diving into the grass.

As for fighting, males engage in breast-to-breast duels especially during territorial disputes. With their breasts pressed against one another’s, they rise in the air vertically, pecking and clawing at each other’s upper breasts. Both birds continually emit “zuck” calls, and on occasion one of they birds may grip his opponent and hold him down. They may even fall into the water with their breasts still against each other. Juveniles engage in the same form of conflict. Males also chase after each other regularly, among juveniles as play and among adults to assert dominance or claim over territory. They also assert themselves by the head-forward threat.

Seaside Sparrow Diet

Seaside Sparrows are small birds, whose diet consists primarily of insects, invertebrates and seeds. Their diets undergo minor changes depending on the season and location, but these birds enjoy grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, spiders, small crabs, snails, amphipods, and marine worms year-round. They also enjoy a wide
variety of seeds, especially in the fall and winter seasons, including saltbush and cordgrass.

They forage on the ground, sticking to the edges of water bodies, and in areas of low-height vegetation such as Cordgrass and Salicornia. They probe in the mud with their beaks or feet and pick up items from the surface with their bills.

Seaside Sparrow Habitat

These birds are generally occupying tidal marshes across most of their populations, but do not have continuous distributions across the map. They do not gravitate towards specific vegetations, and instead make do with what they come across.

Most breeding populations require their nest sites to be above spring tides, and need there to be areas of no vegetation such as the edges of pools or creeks where they can forage on open mud or on the bases of rooted vegetation. Their ideal habitats would have such expanses for nesting and feeding purposes, and if this is not present, they adapt by commuting from their nest areas to their separate feeding locations.

They enjoy nesting in zones of fine-textured graminoid vegetation, such as Salt Meadow Grass, Black Grass, Saltgrass, and medium to dwarf species of Cordgrass. Low marshes are very rarely where they nest.

In the overwintering range, the transient birds gather in spots where the Cordgrass is tall, usually in areas that are under shelter and along waterways. Smooth Cordgrass attracts arthropods and high volumes of seeds, making it an ideal vegetation over other saltmarsh vegetations.

In South Carolina, Seaside Sparrows habitually overwinter in the tall S. alterniflora predominantly found in the intertidal stretch along creek and bay edges. They are usually located near nesting areas, making it optimal for these Sparrows.

Range and Migration

These birds usually migrate nocturnally, and hit lighthouses in New York especially. Populations from the northeastern region of America are migratory, but sometimes choose not to migrate in milder winters. They accumulate fat reserves before spring and fall migrations to tide them through harsh winters.

Seaside Sparrow Lifecycle

The female takes on incubation duties exclusively and develops a distinct brooding patch on her lower abdomen. This can become visible 2 to 10 days prior to the laying of the first egg. The incubation rituals begin as they lay the penultimate egg, and can last 12 to 13 days.

Once the eggs hatch, the parents remove the residual eggshells. They do not discard or move the unhatched eggs from the nest. This species of Sparrow has a high hatching rate in Oak Beach, where only 8% of eggs failed to hatch during a study in 1979.

By the first day of hatching, the young ones can assume an upright position while begging and move short distances using their feet and wings. They may let out double peep calls.

By the 8th day, the young birds develop a well-feathered surface except for their coronal regions of their capital tracts. They have distinct breast streaks. If the nest is disturbed, the young are capable of fledging prematurely.

The young normally leave their nest on the 9th day and latest by the 11th day. They are fed by their parents for up to 20 days after they fledge. They have an average life expectancy of 8-9 years.

Nesting

Females are the only ones who construct nests. Once the females initiate the nest building process, she carries on even if the male is absent or removed from the site. The nests take the shape of a cup made of grass stems and blades, lined on the inside with finer, softer blades of grass. The nests usually have a structure that can cover the lining and the eggs. In some cases, the nests can be built under wrack or matted live vegetation.

The external diameter of the nest cups averages 3.94 inches, and the internal diameter averages 2.36 inches. They have an average depth of 1.96 inches and an average dry weight of 0.571 ounces.

The nest cups are not reused across broods or years. The eggs can be bluish white to grayish white, and they have specks and blotches of brown, concentrating more on the larger end of the egg. They are smooth and matte-ish, and a single clutch can range from 2 to 5 eggs.

Anatomy of a Seaside Sparrow

These Sparrows are chunky Sparrows, typically large. These Sparrows have elongated, conical bills, about the length of their heads. They point their tails and they have narrow rectrices that taper to a point. Their central feathers are larger than their outer ones.

Final Thoughts

Seaside Sparrows are not of pressing concern to conservationists, but their populations have been severely impacted. The Dusky Seaside Sparrow of Florida is now extinct, and the pale Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow of the Everglades is now endangered.

The use of pesticides, increased urbanization, pollution and encroachment on their marshy territories has undoubtedly contributed to their population decline. Habitat protection measures are being implemented for their conservation.

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 IdentifyingSeaside Sparrows

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Seaside 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.

Seaside Sparrow Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Seaside 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 Seaside 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 HousesFor Seaside 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.