Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum
This bird gets its name not just from its diet, but because its primary song is a buzzy insect-like trill that is nearly indistinguishable from a grasshopper.
- Scientific name
- Ammodramus savannarum
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Passerellidae › Ammodramus
- IUCN Red List status
- Near Threatened
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Native prairies, pastures, old fields, and agricultural grasslands with sparse woody vegetation.
- Diet
- Insects (primarily grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars) in summer; weed and grass seeds in winter.
- Range
- North America, Central America, Caribbean
- Size
- Length: 10-14 cm, Wingspan: 18 cm, Weight: 14-20 g
- Lifespan
- 3 to 6 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss and fragmentation due to agriculture and urban development, early hay mowing, and pesticide reduction of prey.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and highly secretive. If encountered, keep a safe distance of at least 15 feet to avoid disturbing its ground-nesting activities. Avoid stepping off-trail in native grasslands during the spring and summer breeding seasons to prevent crushing hidden nests.
The grasshopper sparrow ( Ammodramus savannarum ) is a small American sparrow. The genus Ammodramus contains nine species that inhabit grasslands and prairies.
Photo: Cole Wolf, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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