Bachman's Sparrow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBachman's Sparrow
Adult
A larger sparrow with a long, round tail. It is brownish gray above with rusty-streaked feathers and a rusty crown. The throat is buffy with sparse rusty streaks that are not always visible.
© Howard West / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 20, 2017Adult
A grayish brown sparrow with a thin dark line extending behind the eye and a pale eyebrow. Note the long and round bill and tail.
© Jane Mann / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 19, 2020Adult
A spectacular songster found only in the pine woodlands of the southeastern United States.
© Hervé JACOB / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 13, 2017Adult
A rather portly sparrow with a long, rounded tail and a long, rounded bill. Grayish brown overall with rusty streaks above.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 28, 2015Juvenile
Juveniles look similar to adults, but have streaky underparts and tan edges on the wing feathers.
© Jessie Stuebner / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, July 17, 2017Adult
Starts song with a single clear note followed by a trill. Sings from elevated perches typically less than 10 feet above the ground.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexasAdult
Found in open pine woodlands with wiregrass and saw palmetto in the understory
© Daniel Lebbin / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, May 03, 2013Similar SpeciesBotteri's Sparrow
Adult
Botteri's Sparrows look very similar to Bachman's Sparrows, but Botteri's use open grasslands, not open pine forests like Bachman's. Botteri's range also does not overlap with Bachman's.
© Alfonso Auerbach / Macaulay LibraryGracias a Dios, March 19, 2016Similar SpeciesGrasshopper Sparrow
Adult
Grasshopper Sparrows have a flatter head and a thinner bill than Bachman's Sparrows. They also lack the rusty crown seen on Bachman's.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryPennsylvania, June 20, 2015
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