Species BirdsLincoln's Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

CommonBird
Illustration of Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

Lincoln's Sparrow is a finely streaked, buffy-breasted sparrow that is more often heard than seen, slipping through dense vegetation like a mouse. Its sweet, gurgling song, similar to a House Wren's, is surprisingly loud for such a secretive bird. It was described by John James Audubon and named for a young companion, Thomas Lincoln, who collected the first specimen in 1833.

Habitat
Wet shrubby meadows, bogs, and willow thickets
Diet
Seeds, insects, and small invertebrates
How common
Common

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