BIRDING TO THE EDG

Savannah Sparrow is one bird that is highly variable and breeds over most of North America into Central America. Many subspecies have been identified, but this one shown here may be one of the more troubled ones out of them all. The "Belding's" race of the Savannah Sparrow has a minuscule breeding range from southern California into the Baja Peninsula. Furthermore, they inhabit only the salt marshes along that coastal strip. Of course, we all know that the southern California coastline is rapidly developing and growing. This causes much problems with the protection of this species.

Savannah Sparrows are mostly pictured as the birds that fly off the side of an open road as you drive by, much like that of the Vesper Sparrows. Breeding birds marked with strong yellow lores, streaked upper breast and flanks, and a shorter tail. As I mentioned above the prefer open country habitats and can be variable as to where they breed as well as plumage. Vesper Sparrow would have white on the outer retrices. Song Sparrows are larger with longer rounded tails. Songs also flip their tails when they are in flight and Grasshopper Sparrows are bulkier in the neck and head and fly lower to the ground than Savannah Sparrows.

They tend to forage on or near the ground which is why they often are flushed off of roads and show their hind parts as you look. Next time you see a Savannah Sparrow wait and listen for the song. Compare all Savannah's you see. Can you notice differences in the songs?



These photos were taken while I was participating at the San Diego Bird Festival promoting the new Nikon EDG binoculars. I was using a Nikon D200 and a 300 mm F4 Nikkor lens. A big thank you to Nikon for giving me the opportunity to view and enjoy this declining subspecies.