Clay-colored Sparrow Photo Gallery
Breeding adult
Petite, trim sparrow with a small bill, slender body, and fairly long, notched tail. Mostly a pale, tan-and-gray bird with a contrasting face pattern. The pale gray collar is a helpful mark at all times of year.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNorth Dakota, June 13, 2013Nonbreeding adult/immature
Petite sparrow with a small bill. The broad, buffy eyebrow, pale area in front of the eye, pale mustache, and gray collar are good field marks. Note pale central crown stripe.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 15, 2019A petite sparrow with a small, pale bill and fairly long, notched tail. Mostly pale, with a light gray collar. The crown is finely streaked, with a pale stripe over the eye and darker cheek.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, June 12, 2011Not all videos have soundNonbreeding adult/immature
Small sparrow with a small bill. Note broad buffy eyebrow, pale mustache, and gray collar.
© Melissa James / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, October 10, 2015Song is a simple series of 2–8 high buzzes, sounding very insectlike.
© Peter Hawrylyshyn / Macaulay LibraryOntario, June 19, 2020Not all videos have soundNonbreeding adult/immature
Petite sparrow with a small bill. Note pale area in front of the eye and gray collar.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 30, 2011Breeding adult
At the eastern edge of their range, look for them in Christmas tree farms and grassy areas with short, scattered conifers.
© Brad Carlson / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 11, 2017Breeding adult
Breeds in shrublands, field edges, and thickets across the northern prairies. Winters in desert grasslands, upland plains, thorn scrub, fields, and brushy hillsides.
© Bonnie Heinecke / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, June 13, 2017Breeding adult
Small sparrow with a tan cheek patch and broad buffy eyebrow. Note unstreaked belly.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 24, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
New World Sparrows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Passerellidae)
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