Bell's Sparrow is the California chaparral counterpart to the Sagebrush Sparrow. It inhabits dense chamise and coastal sage scrub and runs along the ground with its tail cocked. It was split from the Sagebrush Sparrow in 2013. A darker, streaked subspecies inhabits San Francisco Bay area salt marshes.
Best time to see a Bell's Sparrow
The best time to see a Bell's Sparrow is January–May, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,595 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Bell's Sparrow? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Bell's Sparrow sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Bell's 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 HuckGet an alert when a Bell's 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.