Seaside Sparrow

Ammodramus maritimus

Also known as:Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, Scott's Seaside Sparrow

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

15 cm (6") Fairly common. Usually confined to grassy tidal marshes along United States Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

Yellow patch before eye. White throat is separated from pale jaw stripe by a whisker stripe. Buffy or white breast with some streaking. Short pointed tail.

Dark form known as Dusky Seaside Sparrow once existed. A green form Cape Sable Sparrow may be found in southern Florida.

Song: buzzy like Sharp-tailed Sparrow's; "chack" call like Red-winged Blackbird's.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Jeff Whitlock

Credit: Joseph F. Pescatore

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Seaside Sparrows in CT Saltmarsh

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

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

Seaside Sparrow

1 rule

Rule 1 12 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) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Only or mostly in flight over saltwater
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:193-seaside-sparrow:1:1 Source: 193 Seaside Sparrow, row 1