This week’s Bird of the Week, compliments of the Weminuche Audubon Society and Audubon Rockies, is the Lincoln’s sparrow.
Recently large groups of white-crowned sparrows have been making their presence known, flying from shrub to shrub and singing in the open. Mixed within these boisterous sparrow flocks may be a shyer, smaller bird, the Lincoln’s sparrow. The word often used to describe this secretive sparrow is skulker, a reference to its habit of sneaking along the ground, rarely straying far from cover.
During breeding season, this is a bird of wet meadows with dense patches of willows, alders and sedges. In summer it is found in subarctic and subalpine regions from Alaska across Canada and in Rocky Mountain regions in the west.
This sparrow is seen here beginning in February when it returns from winter ranges farther south. Then it may show up under feeders, searching the ground for seeds while it waits for snow to melt in higher elevation bogs. In southwestern Colorado, nest building begins as early as late May. The song of the male is described as bubbly and wren-like, but he stops singing about halfway through the incubation period. By the end of July, young birds have left the nest.
Lincoln’s sparrows are frequently seen again at this time of year at lower elevations before departing by November. Although it may join groups of other sparrow species in migration, even in places where it is common it tends to be solitary.
The Lincoln’s sparrow can be confused with its closest relative, the song sparrow. Both have dark streaks across the breast and a central dark spot, but the streaks are finer and crisper in the Lincoln’s. Buff-colored lines below the beak and buff coloring across the top of the chest are identifying marks of the Lincoln’s. When its crown feathers are raised, its head can have a pointy shape.
Observe the sparrows in brushy areas and look closely at ones along the Riverwalk and you may find this attractive sparrow.
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