# Song Sparrow

*Melospiza melodia*

Male Song Sparrows learn their songs from neighbors, creating distinct local 'dialects' similar to human regional accents.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Passerellidae › Melospiza
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Brushy fields, marshes, forest edges, and suburban gardens.
- **Diet:** Primarily seeds and berries in winter; insects, spiders, and occasionally small mollusks in summer.
- **Range:** North America, Canada, United States, Mexico
- **Size:** 12-17 cm long, 18-24 cm wingspan
- **Lifespan:** 2-5 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat fragmentation, outdoor cat predation, and window strikes.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. Observe from a distance to avoid disturbing nesting sites. If you find a fledgling on the ground, leave it alone as parents are likely nearby. No medical risk.

## About

The song sparrow ( Melospiza melodia ) is a medium-sized American sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant, variable and adaptable species.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/7833d314-21b7-4695-b61e-8224dfbdcafa
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/9100
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melospiza melodia
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/355151027/medium.png (Daniel Levitis, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.