The tiny, elusive LeConte’s Sparrow is closely related to other grassland sparrow species, including the Saltmarsh, Baird’s, and Henslow’s Sparrows. Like these relatives, the LeConte’s Sparrow behaves more like a mouse than a bird, foraging on the ground amidst thick vegetation, and scuttling away, rather than flying, when it feels threatened.
For those lucky enough to get a good look at one, the LeConte’s Sparrow shows several definitive ID features: a pumpkin-colored face with grey cheeks, a dark brown crown with white central stripe, and, perhaps most notably, a lilac-grey nape streaked in chestnut.
This bird’s exceptionally wary ways have made it a difficult study subject. How have ornithologists managed to find out anything about it?
Read on to find out more:
https://abcbirds.org/bird/lecontes-sparrow
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