The Le Conte's
Sparrow is often a difficult bird to observe, as it is normally found in the dense
vegetation around the edges of marshes or in damp fields. It also normally
forages near the ground below the vegetation, and when disturbed, is more likely
to run away or fly low through the vegetation for a short distance. They
are one of the smallest sparrows found in South Dakota.
Habitat: They
are found on the fringes of wetlands and marshes or in damp fields during the
summer breeding season, wherever very shallow water is found in conjunction with
a dense cover of herbaceous vegetation. They winter in similar wet
habitats during the winter.
Diet: Primarily
feeds on insects during the summer, and seeds during the winter.
Behavior: Most
of its foraging is done on or near the ground, often under cover of dense
vegetation. Males may sing night or day from a perch within tall grass
during the summer breeding season.
Nesting: June and July
Song: A weak insect-like hiss.
Migration: Summers in the
extreme northern Great Plains and western Great Lakes region, and throughout
much of south-central Canada. Winters in the southeastern United States.
Status: Still common in much of its range where
habitat remains, but has experienced some declines from habitat loss.
South Dakota "Hotspot": I've had great luck finding them in many weedy
overgrown fields in the Sioux Falls Area in the Fall (especially the last week
of September and first week of October), especially those near wetlands. "Atkins Slough", a wetland area just west
of the high school outside of Tea, in Lincoln County, nearly always has many
during the fall.
2)
Cornell University's "All About Birds - Le Conte's Sparrow"
3)
eNature.com:
Le Conte's Sparrow
Photo Information: October 8th, 2005 -- Atkins Slough near Tea, in Lincoln County -- Terry Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or
text links below for additional, higher-resolution Le Conte's Sparrow photos.
