The small size, short spiky tail, small bill, and flat, sloping forehead are characteristic of the genus Ammodramus and allow for relatively easy separation from most other sparrow genera. Only the larger Savannah Sparrow is structurally somewhat similar, but that species lacks the extensively buffy-yellow plumage of the Le Conte’s Sparrow, is much more heavily and uniformly streaked, and has a very different face pattern. Grasshopper Sparrow, which may overlap in range with Le Conte’s Sparrow as a vagrant, is slightly larger and overall buffier (less yellowish-buff or orangey-buff) with a plainer face pattern, greyer supercilium, and (in adult plumage) almost unstreaked underparts. Juvenile Grasshopper Sparrow is more similar to juvenile Le Conte’s Sparrow, but is paler and greyer, with fine streaking throughout the face.
Both adult and juvenile Le Conte’s Sparrows are most similar to similarly-aged Nelson’s Sparrows, which occur in the same habitats as Le Conte’s Sparrows in the Peace River area of northeastern B.C. Adult Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow is brighter orangey or ochre-buff on the supercilium, throat, breast, sides, and flanks (Le Conte’s is paler yellowish-buff, especially on the breast, sides, and flanks). Furthermore, adult Nelson’s Sharp-tailed has a pure grey collar across the nape and sides of the neck (this area is greyish with heavy purplish or reddish-brown streaking in Le Conte’s). The streaking on the underparts of Le Conte’s Sparrow is sharper, darker, and more extensive than that of Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, which has narrow rufous-brown streaks that are most prominent on the rear flanks. Finally, the back and scapulars of Nelson’s Sharp-tailed sport several narrow white lines that contrast sharply with the otherwise relatively dark rufous-grey upperparts and wings. Juvenile Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows are overall bright orangey-buff (darker and more orange-toned than the buffy juvenile Le Conte’s Sparrow), with minimal streaking on the breast, sides, and flanks (underparts more heavily streaked in juvenile Le Conte’s).
| The distinctive song of this species is a fine, hissing, unmusical buzz that is preceded by one or two short, clipped notes: tik-tik-a-tshhhhhhhhhhhht; the quality of the song is wiry and thin, with a characteristic ‘insect-like’ tone. The song is reminiscent of the songs of several other Ammodramus species, but is higher-pitched and thinner than that of Nelson’s Sparrow (which also lacks the sharp introductory notes) and Grasshopper Sparrow. This species sometimes gives a flight song (also given from a perch) that consists of several chipping and slurred notes followed by the typical hissing song. The typical call note is a sharp, high, thin tseeez or tsip. The alarm call is a low, ticking chip that is often doubled. Source: Sibley (2000); Lowther (2005) |
Courtship
Males sing during the breeding season, presumably to attract mates as well as to establish territory boundaries. Most birds sing persistently from a low perch within dense grasses or sedges, although some birds perch on higher, more exposed perches in low willows and other shrubs or on tall grasses. Occasionally, males engage in a ‘song flight’ in which the singing male will briefly fly up above the territory and then abruptly return to a perch that is near the original take-off point.
Nest
This species often nests colonially, presumably because of the localized distribution of suitable nesting habitat. The well-concealed nest is built in early to mid-June and is placed on or just above the ground (to 20 cm in height, but usually <10 cm) within a dense tussock of dry grass or sedges. The nest itself is a small, compact cup ~6 cm wide and ~3 cm deep and is composed primarily of dried grasses, sedges, and rushes and is lined with finer grasses (rarely lined with hairs).
Eggs
A single clutch of (3) 4 (5) eggs is laid in mid-June and is incubated by the female for 11-13 days before hatching. The smooth, somewhat glossy eggs are pale bluish-green to greyish-white and are heavily speckled with fine brown or cinnamon spots and blotches (usually concentrated at the larger end). Eggs are likely present in B.C. primarily in mid- to late June. This species is a relatively frequent host for Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism.
Young
The young are altricial and downy upon hatching, with pale pink skin and sparse, dull brown down. They are tended by the female and remain in the nest for ~9 days before fledging. They probably remain with one or both parents for a short period after fledging, but this has not been documented. Nestlings and dependent fledglings are likely present in B.C between late June and mid-July.
Source: Baicich and Harrison (1997); Campbell et al. (2001); Lowther (2005)
|
Like other members of its genus, the Le Conte’s Sparrow is notorious for is secretive habits. Foraging birds typically remain on the ground or low in the vegetation, and are usually concealed within dense sedges and grasses. They move mouse-like through this habitat searching for a variety of small insects and other invertebrates, and will consume small seeds when they are available (primarily outside of the breeding season). When flushed from this habitat, this species often flies weakly low over the vegetation for a short distance before abruptly dropping back into cover. This species typically forages alone or in pairs on the breeding grounds. It does not form flocks and rarely joins mixed-species sparrow flocks during migration, preferring to migrate alone.
Source: Lowther (2005)
|
|
