Species BirdsSeaside Sparrow

Seaside Sparrow

Ammospiza maritima

UncommonBird
Illustration of Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima)

The Seaside Sparrow is a dark, stocky sparrow of saltmarshes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. It rarely flies and walks and runs through marsh grass with a secretive, mouse-like behavior. The yellow spot before the eye and dark malar stripe are the main field marks. The extinct Dusky Seaside Sparrow of Florida was the first US bird known to have gone extinct from human causes.

Habitat
Salt and freshwater coastal marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts
Diet
Insects, small fiddler crabs, and seeds from marsh substrate
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Seaside Sparrow

The best time to see a Seaside Sparrow is April–July, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,950 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Seaside Sparrow? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Seaside Sparrow sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Seaside Sparrow? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.

Get Huck

Get an alert when a Seaside Sparrow is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love birds? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More birds

Sedge Wren
Sedge Wren
Cistothorus stellaris
Sedge Wren
Sedge Wren
Cistothorus platensis
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Short-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Short-billed Gull
Short-billed Gull
Larus brachyrhynchus
Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus