Seaside Sparrow

Taxobox
name = Seaside Sparrow

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image_width = 200px
image_caption = Male Dusky Seaside Sparrow ("Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens") Extinct since June 17, 1987
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
subclassis = Neornithes
infraclassis = Neognathae
superordo = Neoaves
ordo = Passeriformes
subordo = Passeri
infraordo = Passerida
superfamilia = Passeroidea
familia = Emberizidae
genus = "Ammodramus"
species = "A. maritimus"
binomial = "Ammodramus maritimus"
binomial_authority = (Wilson, 1811)

The Seaside Sparrow, "Ammodramus maritimus", is a small American sparrow. The 11 "Ammodramus" species inhabit marshes and grasslands.

Adults have brownish upperparts with grey on the crown and nape, and a grayish buff colored breast with dark streaks; they have a dark face with grey cheeks, a white throat and a short pointed tail. Birds show a small yellow streak just above the eye.

Their breeding habitat is salt marshes on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States from southern New Hampshire to southern Texas. The nest is an open cup usually built in the salt marsh on tidal reeds and spartina grasses. Females lay 2-5 eggs.

Northern birds most often migrate further south along the eastern coast of the United States.

They forage on the ground or in marsh vegetation, sometimes probing in mud. They mainly eat insects, marine invertebrates and seeds. Their feeding areas are often some distance away from the areas they choose to nest.

One of the numerous subspecies of this bird, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow ("A. m. nigrescens") has recently become extinct, and the Cape Sable subspecies "A. m. mirabilis" is endangered. Occurring in a restricted range but of uncertain validity is Scott's Seaside Sparrow ("A. m. peninsulae"). Those were formerly considered a separate species.

The call closely resembles a raspy buzz, similar to a distant Red-winged Blackbird.

References

* Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern.

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9598 Seaside Sparrow videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/20228000.htm Stamps] (for United States) with RangeMap
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=seaside+sparrow&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Seaside Sparrow photo gallery] VIREO