From Opus

Photo by JN Dell
Location: South Georgia, USA

Melospiza georgiana

[edit] Identification

5 ins (12-14cm). Streaked rusty and black upperparts, gray breast, light belly, white throat, solid rust-colored cap (streaky in winter), and rusty wings. Gray face, dark line through the eye. They have a short bill and fairly long legs.

[edit] Distribution

North America and central Canada.

[edit] Taxonomy

2 subspecies:

• M. g. ericrypta (Oberholser, 1938) - Northern Swamp Sparrow, Western Swamp Sparrow
• M. g. georgiana (Latham, 1790) - Southern Swamp Sparrow

[edit] Habitat

Marshes.

[edit] Behaviour

It builds a bulky nest with leaves arching over the top, which is attached to marsh vegetation.

The diet includes insects and seeds.

[edit] External Links