Description & Identification

Size: about 5.1 to 6.0 in (≈ 130-150 mm) Weight: around 12–13 g (≈ 0.4–0.5 oz) Bill: pinkish/pale pink (a good distinguishing trait)

Head: distinct rusty or reddish crown, relatively plain gray face, white eye ring (neat, conspicuous). Back, wings: brown with streaking; two whitish wing bars may be present. Underparts: buffy on breast, white belly.

Variants: There are somewhat rufous and grayer morphs (color variation) in some populations.

Sexes: Males and females look essentially alike; slight size and coloration differences may exist, but these are not reliably noticeable in the field.

Juveniles often show faint streaking on the breast/sides and are slightly more washed.

Voice & Song

The song is often described as a “bouncing-ball” trill (i.e., a series of whistles or notes that accelerate, reminiscent of a bouncing ball coming to rest). The male often sings from elevated small perches (tops of shrubs, small trees, fence lines) in early morning. Calls: “seep” or “chirp” calls are common for both sexes.

---

Habitat & Distribution in Ohio

The Field Sparrow favors brushy, shrubby fields, overgrown meadows, old fields, forest edges, fencerows, hedgerows, and other early successional habitats. Though its name suggests “open fields,” it actually requires some shrub or woody plants for perching, singing, nesting, and cover.

It avoids densely urban or heavily managed suburban areas for breeding. In winter, Ohio is near the northern limit of its wintering range; some individuals overwinter in Ohio in suitable habitats. In winter, they tend to “skulk” in brushy successional habitats, old fields, and edges.

Distribution / Range

Across North America, its breeding range spans much of the eastern U.S. and into eastern Canada. Northern birds migrate south in winter into the southern U.S. and northern Mexico. In Ohio, it is a known breeding species.

---

Behavior & Diet

Forages mostly on the ground or low vegetation, gleaning seeds and insects. In the breeding season, insects (butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, snails) may comprise around half or a large share of the diet.

In the winter /non-breeding season, seeds dominate the diet, including grasses, weed seeds, and others. The bird may also pounce from low perches to catch insects.

Males arrive early on breeding grounds and set up / defend territories. Males often return to the same territory year after year (site fidelity). Pairs are mostly monogamous, though first-time breeding males may occasionally have anomalies in pairing.

---

Nesting, Reproduction & Life Cycle

Breeding season: generally from April through August in its range. Clutches: typically 2 to 5 eggs per clutch.

Incubation: about 10 to 17 days, with an average of around 11–12 days. Nestlings fledge after about 7 to 8 days. Then they begin flying around days 13–14. Independence: nestlings typically become independent by 24 to 36 days post-hatch.

Nest construction: The female builds the nest (male may assist by supplying materials). Early nests may be placed on the ground under grasses or near shrub bases. As the season progresses and vegetation grows, nests may be placed higher in shrubs (up to ~4 feet off the ground) in species such as blackberry, honeysuckle, dogwood, and hawthorn.

Nest structure: a cup made of coarse grasses, leaves, rootlets, lined with softer grasses/hair, etc. Multiple broods: field sparrows often attempt two broods, and in favorable conditions, possibly three.

Parasitism: Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism has been recorded, with high rates (up to ~80% of nests) documented in some parts of its range. Nest failure & predation: Nest predation is a significant risk, influencing the number of nesting attempts.

---

Trends & Conservation

Population trend: Although still relatively common, Field Sparrow populations have experienced declines in many parts of their range, likely due to habitat loss, suppression of early successional habitats, and conversion of land to suburban/urban uses.

In Ohio, winter records vary; in some winters, modest numbers are observed in old fields / brushy habitats. Conservation measures: Preserving and managing early successional habitat (fields, shrubby growth stages) is essential. Programs like the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which allow marginal farmland to revert to grasses/shrubs, help maintain habitat.

Avoiding the removal of hedgerows, field edges, shrubs, and mid-successional vegetation benefits them. Minimizing heavy nest disturbance and the removal of brushy patches during the breeding season helps increase survival.

---

Interesting Notes & Observations in Ohio

In Ohio winters, the Field Sparrow is less conspicuous; it “skulks” and keeps to dense brushy patches. The Bill sometimes becomes stained with grass seed in winter, making it look “odd.” Banding efforts in Ohio (e.g., at old fields, netting) have recorded Field Sparrows in fall and migration periods.