The Field Sparrow is a small bird. Adults have brown upperparts, a light brown breast, a white belly, wing bars and a forked tail. They have a grey face, a rusty crown, a white eye ring and a pink bill.

Habitat and Distribution

These birds are permanent residents in the southern parts of their range. Northern birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico. Their breeding habitat is shrubby fields across eastern North America.


The Field Sparrows forage on the ground or in low vegetation, mainly eating insects and seeds. They may feed in small flocks outside the nesting season.


The nest is an open cup on the ground under a clump of grass or in a small thicket.

Calls and Songs

The song is a series of sad whistles ending in a trill, often compared to the accelerating sound of a bouncing ball, often sung by the male when he is claiming his territory.