Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow

Ammodramus nelsoni

Also known as:Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

13 cm (5") Fairly common but secretive. Breeds in marshes and muskeg from northeastern British Columbia, Great Slave Lake to central Alberta, Montana, North Dakota and in salt marshes along James Bay and north Atlantic Coast; winters along southeastern Atlantic Coast.

Orange triangle on the face encompasses a gray cheek patch. Buffy breast and sides with some streaking. Told from Le Conte's Sparrow by its gray central crown stripe.

Song: trill preceded by chips; likened to hot metal being submersed in water.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Teddy Llovet

Morro Bay Estuary, San Luis Obispo Co., CA, USA. November 22, 2010

Credit: Bill Bouton

E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area, Worcester Co., MD - November 2010

Credit: Matt Tillett

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Nelson's Sparrow

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

NELSON'S SPARROW at Castalia Marsh, Grand Manan I.

Credit: Stuart Tingley

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow

3 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 3

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:150-nelson-s-sharp-tailed-sparrow:1:1 Source: 150 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:150-nelson-s-sharp-tailed-sparrow:2:1 Source: 150 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, row 2

Rule 3 14 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:150-nelson-s-sharp-tailed-sparrow:3:1 Source: 150 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, row 3