Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
John James Audubon named the bird after his companion Thomas Lincoln, who collected the first cataloged specimen in Labrador in 1833.
- Scientific name
- Melospiza lincolnii
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Passerellidae › Melospiza
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Boreal bogs, wet meadows, fens, shrubby riparian thickets, and weedy brush during migration and winter.
- Diet
- Insects such as beetles, caterpillars, and ants during breeding season; small grass and weed seeds during winter.
- Range
- Canada, United States, Mexico, Central America
- Size
- 13–15 cm length, 18–20 cm wingspan, 17–20 g
- Lifespan
- 2–7 yr
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, livestock grazing in montane riparian zones, climate-driven drying of peatlands, and window collisions during nocturnal migration.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. This bird is naturally secretive and hides in dense brush or sedges when approached. Maintain a safe distance of several meters to avoid disrupting feeding or nesting behavior. No medical risk exists from contact.
Lincoln's sparrow ( Melospiza lincolnii ) is a medium-sized sparrow.
Photo: Dan Vickers, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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