The Lincoln’s sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) is a small, secretive songbird that breeds across Canada and the western United States. It spends the winter in Mexico and the southern US. With its plain brown plumage and streaked breast, it can be tricky to identify. But its sweet song and skulking habits make it a special treat for birders when they can spot it. If you’ve seen a Lincoln’s sparrow and want to know what other birds are similar, here are some options.
Other Small Brown Sparrows
Many sparrows are small, brown, and streaky. Here are some that share similarities with the Lincoln’s sparrow:
- Song sparrow – Also has brown streaking on its breast and a rounded tail with a long notch in the middle. But the song sparrow is quite common across North America and has a darker breast spot.
- Swamp sparrow – Streaking on its breast and a brown back like the Lincoln’s. But swamp sparrows have a gray face and reddish cap.
- Field sparrow – Tiny with a reddish cap like the swamp sparrow. But with finer streaks on its light brown breast.
- Chipping sparrow – Also small with fine streaks and a reddish cap. But chippings have a grayer unstreaked breast and black line through the eye.
- American tree sparrow – Finely streaked brown breast and plain gray face. Often puffs its tail and has a dark spot on its breast.
While similar, each of these sparrows has slight differences in size, colors, markings, range, habitat, and behavior compared to the Lincoln’s sparrow. With practice an observer can start to recognize the distinctions.
Other Sparrows that Act Like a Lincoln’s
Beyond looks, the Lincoln’s sparrow has a particular skulking, shy nature that can help identify it. Other sparrows that behave similarly include:
- Fox sparrow – Also tends to sneak through dense undergrowth while migrating and on its wintering grounds. It has reddish wings and a boldly spotted breast.
- Song sparrow – While a common bird, individual song sparrows can be secretive in migration and winter like the Lincoln’s sparrow.
- Swamp sparrow – Sneaks through wet areas like marshes and the edges of ponds.
- Green-tailed towhee – Not a sparrow but a relative in the sparrow family. It lurks in brush on the western side of North America.
Paying attention to skulking behavior can be another clue beyond field marks that a small brown bird is a Lincoln’s or Lincoln’s-like sparrow.
Identifying Features of the Lincoln’s Sparrow
To confidently identify a Lincoln’s sparrow and distinguish it from other similar birds, look for these key features:
Size and Shape
– About 5.5-6.5 inches long, or 14-16 cm
– Round head that protrudes from the body
– Short tail with a medium notch in the middle
– Medium-sized conical bill
Plumage
– Brown above with black streaks
– Pale buff below with brown streaks merging toward the breast
– Finely streaked and muted gray face
– Plain gray cheeks
– No strong markings on head
– Diffuse dark spot at center of streaked breast
– Brown wings with two faint wingbars
Behavior
– Skulks low in dense undergrowth
– Creeps mouse-like through leaves on ground
– Rarely seen hopping actively on open branches
– Nervous and quick to flush
– Call is a high, buzzy “tzzzREE”
Range and Habitat
The Lincoln’s sparrow breeds in:
– Coniferous forests across Canada
– Western mountains down to Sierra Nevada range
– Northern Great Plains in shrubby wet areas
It winters in:
– Southern US into mountains of Mexico
– Along the Pacific Coast
– Prefers damp thickets near water
How to Find a Lincoln’s Sparrow
Lincoln’s sparrows are notoriously difficult to spot. Here are some tips for finding this shy species:
Check Migration Hotspots
Lincoln’s sparrows pass through many areas during migration between their breeding and wintering grounds. Some prime spots include:
– Coastal California – Burns Park near San Diego
– Texas Gulf Coast – High Island and Johnson’s Woods
– Great Lakes region – Ohio’s Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
– Atlantic Coast – Cape May, NJ and Rock Creek Park, Washington DC
Pish in Wet Thickets
“Pishing” is making a shushing sound to stir up and attract birds. Lincoln’s sparrows can often be pished up from wet, dense tangles along waterways. Pish near:
– Streams and creekbeds lined with willows or cottonwoods
– Marshy edges and boggy meadows
– Coastal wetlands and saltwater marshes
Check Known Winter Sites
Look for Lincoln’s sparrows at regular wintering hotspots like:
– Upper Arroyo Seco Canyon near Los Angeles
– Sabal Palm Sanctuary in south Texas near the Mexico border
– Oregon’s Fern Ridge Wildlife Area
Join a Winter Sparrow Survey
Join a local Audubon or bird survey group that monitors winter sparrow populations. Experienced leaders know the best sparrow spots and provide extra eyes and ears.
How to Distinguish the Lincoln’s Sparrow from Other Birds
The Lincoln’s sparrow can still be tricky to identify among all the little brown birds flitting through leaf litter. Here are some specific tips for telling apart the Lincoln’s from other similar species:
Differences from Song Sparrow
- Lincoln’s has a smaller, brighter buff belly and whiter throat
- Lincoln’s lacks the dark central breast spot that is classic on the song sparrow
- Song sparrow has bolder black streaks on its back and breast
- Lincoln’s thinner bill contrasts with the song’s stouter triangular bill
Differences from Swamp Sparrow
- Swamp sparrow has a gray face with a rusty cap while Lincoln’s has a plain gray head
- Swamp sparrow’s breast streaks extend up onto the gray throat
- Lincoln’s lacks the swamp’s bright rusty wings
Differences from Chipping Sparrow
- Chipping has an unstreaked gray breast and whiter belly
- Chipping’s rusty cap is brighter and more distinct
- Chipping is more active in the open rather than skulking
Differences from Fox Sparrow
- Fox sparrow is much larger and stockier with a huge bill
- Fox sparrow has bold rufous wings and heavily marked breast spots
- Fox sparrow’s tail is proportionally longer
With practice, birders can recognize the subtle distinctions inbehavior, habitat, location and season to identify those elusive Lincoln’s sparrows.
Conclusion
The Lincoln’s sparrow stands out among its genus for its subtle beauty and mysterious habits. While sharing many similarities with other small brown sparrows, a sharp eye can pick up the field marks of size, shape, plumage pattern, and behavior that identify this special bird. Seek out wet copses and dense understory vegetation when you hear the distinctive buzzy call of the Lincoln’s sparrow. With patience, you may be rewarded by a glimpse of this shy songster as it creeps mouse-like among the tangled shadows.
Species | Key Identification Features |
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Lincoln’s Sparrow |
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Song Sparrow |
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Swamp Sparrow |
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Chipping Sparrow |
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