A practical guide to bird watching in Sonoma County, California
(Unless otherwise indicated, all phone numbers are in the 707 area code)
One of our most distinctive sparrow species. The pattern of boldly contrasting bands of white and color on the head create a helmeted look that makes this bird easy to identify. Fairly large, with rounded head and strong, conical bill. Note the comparatively long tail. Breast is pale and unstreaked, but there is usually a central dark spot in the middle of the upper breast. Streaky brown back. In flight, note dark tail with white edges and white outer corners. Often heard singing. Young birds may be streaky underneath and, while they show the head pattern, it is less prominent and lacking the strong chestnut patches.
Present in the county year-round, but more common in late spring to early summer. May form small flocks in the winter months. Never abundant, but not uncommon. Tends to favor sparsely wooded areas and open scrub but often present in grassy areas, cultivated fields, and suburban areas and may turn up even in dense woods. Mostly seeks food on the ground, primarily looking for seeds, but will eat insects as well, as the photograph here attests.
Further reading:
Bolander and Parmeter, Birds of Sonoma County California, rev. ed., 2000, p. 114
Brinkley, National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America, 2007, p. 471
Dunn and Alderfer, eds., National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 5th ed., 2006, p. 414
Dunn and Alderfer, eds., National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th ed., 2011, p. 472
Dunne, Peter Dunne’s Essential Field Guide Companion, Houghton Mifflin, 2006, pp. 600-601
Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, The Birder's Handbook, paperback edition, 1988, p. 574
Fix and Bezener, Birds of Northern California, 2000, p. 331
Floyd, Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 2008, p. 426
Kaufman, Field Guide to Birds of North America, 2000, p. 352
Kaufman, Advanced Birding, 1990, pp. 246-251 (notes on sparrow ID generally), p. 248
Lukas, Bay Area Birds: From Sonoma County to Monterey Bay, 2012, p. 250-251
Parmeter and Wight, Birds of Sonoma County California, Update (2000-2010), 2012, p. 68
Peterson, Birds of Eastern and Central North America, 5th ed., 2002, p. 298
Peterson, Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, 4th ed., 2010, p. 330-331
Peterson, Western Birds, 3rd ed., 1990, p. 318-319
Sibley, Field Guide to Birds of Western North America,1st ed., 2003, p. 416
Stokes, Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 1st ed., 2010, p. 670
Vuilleumier, American Museum of Natural History, Birds of North America: Western Region, 2011, p. 404
Voice: Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds--Lark Sparrow
© Colin Talcroft, 2009-2023
Unless noted, all photos by the author. If you would like to use one of my images, please ask for permission for non-commercial use with proper credit or commercial use with proper compensation.
Lark Sparrow (with prey), Healdsburg, May 6, 2023
For comparison: Lincoln's Sparrow
Nagasawa Park, Santa Rosa, January 11, 2010
Note head shape and buffy grey color in particular
For camparison: Song Sparrow
Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, January 7, 2010
For comparison: Song Sparrow
Spring Lake, Santa Rosa, January 21, 2012
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Sonoma County data. Graph provided by eBird (www.ebird.org), generated May 22, 2023
EBird-reported occurrence in Sonoma County
