Song sparrow

The song sparrow is a bird that sings its heart out. It is among the first of the migrants to return in spring, and the male proclaims his territory from a low perch with a bright series of notes that always starts with a few clear repeated ones. Each male has a repertoire of several song types.

It is a streaky brown sparrow, with a central dark spot on the chest that often shows in photographs. Song sparrows are found in brushy edges, wet thickets, and marsh margins across Manitoba, and the nest is a tidy cup often hidden near the ground. In the fall, most migrate to the southern United States, while a few remain in the south of the province.

I love the streaky chest and central dark spot of a song sparrow, and how it sings with its whole body.

To learn more about the song sparrow and its habitat, visit its species page at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

Song sparrow Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the song sparrow in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.