They feed by walking or hopping on the ground, in shrubs or in very shallow water. The Song sparrow is one of the most abundant, variable, and adaptable native sparrows in North America. Song sparrows recognize enemies by both instinctual and learned patterns and adjust their future behavior based on both their own experiences in encounters and from watching other birds interact with the enemies. It is almost always found in dense vegetation along water courses, but it also makes it into suburban gardens in the east. Song sparrows are most easily confused with Lincoln's sparrow and the Savannah sparrow. The nominate subspecies of Song Sparrow (melodia), found across the eastern U.S., is a medium-sized, streaky-breasted, rather chunky brown bird. Song sparrows are able to distinguish neighbors from strangers on the basis of the song; females are also able to distinguish (and prefer) their mate's songs from those of other neighboring birds, and they prefer songs of neighboring birds to those of strangers. The family's search for closure in this song acts as a metaphor for the loss of species and destruction of natural environments. The name Song Sparrow was given to this species of birds in recognition of the fact that these birds sing as many as 20 different tunes with as many as 1,000 improvised variations on the basic theme. ABC's BirdScapes approach to migratory bird conservation, which works to conserve both winter and summer habitats, also benefits more common "backyard" birds such as Song Sparrow. The Savannah sparrow has a forked tail and yellowish flecks on the face when seen up close. "Over the last few decades the Sparrow has gone from being one of the world's most common and widespread birds to being Red Listed as a species of high conservation concern," said Barker. Song sparrows typically learn their songs from other birds that have neighboring territories. Their face is gray with a brown streak through each eye. He will also use aggressive actions to deter other male Song Sparrows from entering his territory. Songs become more complex as the young bird matures, then attempts to establish a breeding territory the following spring. Song sparrows are most easily confused with Lincoln's sparrow and the Savannah sparrow. Like the Horned Lark, the Song Sparrow is one of the bird world's most “polytypic” — having more than one type — with 24 to 38 subspecies recognized across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Perhaps the most wide spread native sparrow in North America, the Song Sparrow is also the most variable in appearance. The Savannah sparrow has a forked tail and yellowish flecks on the face when seen up close. Song Sparrows are one of the most frequently noted hosts of Brown-headed Cowbird. Nesting Habits of the Song Sparrow. Interesting Song Sparrow Facts. Donate to support ABC's conservation mission! The Song Sparrow lives up to its name, singing persistently throughout the year. Found in a variety of scrubby habitats both near and far from human development. It was reported that one of the songs heard often in suburban locations closely resembles the opening four notes of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. Some western U.S. and island subspecies are threatened by habitat loss. However, the Song Sparrow subspecies found in the Aleutian Islands is darker-colored and larger, too — about the about the size of a towhee. Song sparrows are monogamous and form pairs, however, some birds may exhibit polygynous behavior in which one male mate with several females. Fun Facts for Kids. This information is used to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. They have a brown cap and a long brown rounded tail. The birds forage on the ground in a wide variety of habitats and visit backyard feeders for seed during the winter, often alongside White-throated Sparrows. Males arrive on the breeding grounds earlier than females and establish territories. The female lay 3 to 5 brown with greenish-white spots eggs per clutch and incubates them for 13-15 days.