Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

      Fields/Pasture
      or Small Grains/Forage Crops
      or Coastal Dune
      or Sedge Meadow

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Wherever grasslands and grassy marshes, hayfields, and pastures occur, the Savannah Sparrow is found, usually in considerable abundance. Recent research suggests the best habitats contain vegetation arranged in clumps with bare ground beneath or shorter vegetation located between. In most areas of Michigan these habitats are created as a by-product of agriculture or logging.

Data from the Atlas Habitat Survey indicate a pronounced preference for hayfields in all regions of the state. Occurrence in other habitats is similar to their relative frequencies although within old fields there is a clear preference for dense rather than sparse vegetation. Other habitats used included pastures, row crops, shoreland, shrub wetland, and open wetlands.

The nest is placed in a scraped hollow at the base of a clump of vegetation. The nest lip is usually at ground level. The nest cup is made of coarse grasses or similar materials and is lined with fine grasses, rootlets, and hair. A concealing tuft of vegetation usually overhangs the nest.

Agricultural areas in the southern part of the state apparently produce favorable habitat for the Savannah Sparrow. Grassland and dune vegetation may be responsible for the higher number of sightings along the lakeshore in the northern Lower Peninsula. The interior north-central part of the Lower Peninsula is heavily forested and provides less habitat. In the Upper Peninsula, sightings are concentrated in the eastern, south-central, and northwestern counties. Elsewhere, dense forest prevents colonization.

Habitat: Breeding: Grassy swales, hayfields, meadows, salt marshes. Habitat varies greatly in vegetation, moisture and so on, but nest location and construction are consistently similar. Birds may favor moist lowland habitats with dense ground vegetation.

Special Habitat Requirements: Grasses and other vegetation of moderate height-neither short or tall.

Habitat: Open fields, meadows, salt marshes, prairies, dunes, shores. Over most of range, founding open meadows, pastures, edges of marshes, alfalfa fields; also tundra in summer, shores and weedy vacant lots in winter.

Diet: Mostly insects and seeds. Feeds on many insects, especially in summer, including beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, flies, and others, plus spiders. Coastal populations will also consume tiny crustaceans and mollusks. Also eats many seeds, mainly of grasses and weeds, and some berries. Young are fed mostly insects.

Nest: Site is on ground, usually well hidden among grass or weeds. Usually placed under matted dead plants or under overhanging grass, so that nest can only be approached by a tunnel from one side. Nest is open cup made of grass, lined with finer grass.