Grasshopper Sparrow 2025

(C) Joel Bookhammer

The Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) is a small, elusive songbird characterized by its flat head, short tail, and distinctive insect-like song, which resembles the sound of a grasshopper. Measuring approximately 4.3–5 inches in length, it displays a buffy tan coloration with unstreaked underparts and a subtle yellow-orange stripe above the eye. ​

During the breeding season, Grasshopper Sparrows inhabit open grasslands, prairies, and weedy fields across southern Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They prefer areas with intermediate grass height and patches of bare ground, avoiding regions with dense woody vegetation. Nesting occurs on the ground, concealed within clumps of tall grass, where females lay 4–5 eggs per clutch. Their diet primarily consists of insects—especially grasshoppers—and spiders during the breeding season, while seeds become a more significant food source in winter. ​

(C) Laura Jackson

In Pennsylvania, Grasshopper Sparrows are present from May to July, frequenting grasslands and prairies where they forage on the ground for insects and seeds. Their preference for warm climates and specific habitat requirements make them more common in the southern regions of the state. However, habitat loss due to agricultural decline and suburban development has led to population declines in the northeast, including Pennsylvania. ​(Vern Gauthier)