Song Sparrow (Melospiza Melodia) Haley Breniser

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) Haley Breniser

Muskegon Co., MI 5/3/2008 © John VanOrman

(Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II) A leisurely float down any one of Michigan’s agricultural hedge rows, recent clearcuts, and coastal marshland throughout most of North many rivers confirms the Song Sparrow as one America. From Texas through to the southern of our most common songsters. They seem to Great Plains and down into the deep South greet you at every bend perched atop a shrubby (Arcese et al. 2002), these birds only winter, mass, faithfully singing an individual rendition leaving us to wonder how a Song Sparrow’s of the traditional Song Sparrow melody. Many southern twang might resonate down a southern of our sparrows are referred to as LBBs or Little stream corridor in early spring. Brown Birds. This description could not be further from the truth for this avian creature. Distribution Their body coloration rather, is an intricate In Michigan the Song Sparrow is widely weave of chocolate, grey, auburn, black, beige, distributed, ranging from the very western edge and white that creates fine lines and heavy of the UP through to the southeastern corner of streaking. There is great geographic variation, the SLP. Between MBBA I and MBBA II there represented by 24 morphologically unique was almost no change in distribution; they were subspecies recognized in North America recorded as breeders in nearly every township (Arcese et al. 2002). Because of this, the Song statewide (about 92% in both atlases), with the Sparrow is often regarded as the most physically southern LP showing the highest breeding diverse passerine in North America (Miller evidence (98% in MBBA I, 96% in MBBA II). 1956) and is greatly studied. In fact, some scientists believe that by analyzing their Breeding Biology geographic variation, we could learn something Song Sparrows arrive on breeding territory in substantial about the evolution of biological late February, just in time to catch the last of species (Zink and Dittmann 1993). As a result, Michigan’s blizzards. In the SLP, it is more when a Song Sparrow is focused in our common for individuals to overwinter; the binoculars, we should be reminded of the males establish a winter territory which they complexity of nature, not just the simplicity of defend from the onset of fall to the following “another” little brown bird. spring (Nice 1937). In fact, these territories can

be six to ten times larger than the normal Although abundant along stream corridors and breeding territory (Nice 1937). Many studies inland wetlands, the Song Sparrow is also found show that defending this area is vital for breeding in city parks, shrubby old fields,

© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) Haley Breniser occupancy of the same territory in the spring offset suburban development, allowing this and that maintaining territory year round songbird’s population to hold fairly steady. forecasts lifetime reproductive success (Knapton Currently, conservation concern is not high. and Krebs 1974, Arcese 1989, Hochachka et al. 1989, Beecher et al. 2000). Once the breeding territory is established, the hunt for a mate begins, and the male does not stop singing until fall migration. Their songs are as confident, highly variable, and boisterous as their body Literature Cited language. Arcese, P. 1989. Territory acquisition and loss Abundance and Population Trends in male Song Sparrows. Animal Behavior (Click to view trends from the BBS) 37:45-55. Michigan’s population of Song Sparrows is Arcese, P., M.K. Sogge, A.B. Marr, and M.A. estimated to make up about 2,200,000 (4.1%) of Patten. 2002. Song Sparrow (Melospiza North America’s total of approximately melodia). The Birds of North America 53,000,000 (PIF 2007). They are abundant and Online. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. continue to be widespread in light of the . Accessed 1 December 2009. that has occurred over the past 20 years. In the Beecher, M.D., S.E. Campbell, and J.C. Nordby. Midwest (USFWS Region 3), Breeding Bird 2000. Territory tenure in Song Sparrows is Survey data show a very small, yet significant, related to song sharing with neighbors, but decreasing annual population trend of 0.76%; an not to repertoire size. Animal Behavior average of 23 birds was recorded per route. In 59:29-37. comparison, Michigan averaged 30 Song Hochachka, W.M., J.N.M. Smith, and P. Arcese. Sparrows per route and recorded a non- 1989. Song Sparrow. Pages 135-152 in I. significant decline of about 1% (Sauer et al. Newton, editor. Lifetime Reproduction in 2008). New York and Ontario’s BBS data Birds. Academic Press, New York, New illustrate similar decreasing population trends; York, USA. however the Song Sparrow is still very common Knapton, R.W., and J.R. Krebs. 1974. throughout the Great Lakes region. Settlement patterns, territory size and breeding density in the Song Sparrow Conservation Needs (Melospiza melodia). Canadian Journal of This is one songbird that has adapted fairly well Zoology 52:1413-1420. to urban sprawl and the natural succession of Miller, A.H. 1956. Ecologic factors that old fields. Moreover, Song Sparrows have accelerate formation of races and species of likely benefited from federal and state habitat terrestrial vertebrates. Evolution 10:262- enhancement programs such as the Partners for 277. Fish and Wildlife Program (USFWS) and the Nice, M.M. 1937. Studies in the life history of Conservation Reserve Program (USDA-NRCS) the Song Sparrow. Part I. Transactions of which were initiated about 20 years ago. The the Linnaean Society of New York 4:1-247. efforts of those organizations to restore stream Partners in Flight [PIF]. 2007. PIF Landbird corridors, wetlands, and agricultural land in Population Estimates Database. Version order to increase wildlife habitat on private 2004. Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. property have been extremely successful. . Accessed 1 December 2009.

Sauer, JR, JE Hines, and J Fallon. 2008. The Zink, R.M., and D.L. Dittmann. 1993. Gene North American Breeding Bird Survey, flow, refugia, and evolution of geographic Results and Analysis 1966-2007. Version variation in the Song Sparrow (Melospiza 5.15.2008. USGS Patuxent Wildlife melodia). Evolution 47:717–729. Research Center. Laurel, Maryland, USA. Suggested Citation

Breniser, H. 2011. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). in A.T. Chartier, J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman, editors. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Accessed online at: .