Image via Macaulay Library
Song Sparrow
- Scientific name
- Melospiza melodia
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Shrubland
- Wing shape
- Rounded
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The song sparrow, Melospiza melodia, is one of the most widely distributed and variable passerines in North America. Its evolution is characterized by a high degree of geographic variation, leading to over thirty recognized subspecies that have adapted to diverse environments ranging from coastal salt marshes to high-altitude mountain meadows. Ornithologists have long studied this species as a model for understanding how populations differentiate through physical isolation and environmental pressure.
The species was first formally described by Alexander Wilson in his landmark 1810 work, American Ornithology. Wilson, often considered the father of American ornithology, documented the bird's distinctive streaked plumage and its complex, rhythmic vocalizations. The sparrow's design, featuring its characteristic rounded wings and notched tail, serves as a functional adaptation for its preferred habitat of dense, low-lying brush, allowing for agile, short-distance flight that has kept it a favorite subject for field researchers and birdwatchers for over two centuries.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Song Sparrow on collecto.rs?
Song Sparrow doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Song Sparrow?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Song Sparrow catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Song Sparrow is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
