Birds Guide

Ammodramus
Grasshopper Sparrow
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae   Genus: Ammodramus Swainson, 1827
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Passerherbulus Maynard, 1895

The genus Ammodramus is a group of American sparrows in the family Emberizidae.

These birds are relatively small, with large bills, flat heads and short tails. They are usually found in grasslands or marshes and are often fairly inconspicuous. Most of their songs are insect-like.

Many of these bird species have declined in numbers due to habitat loss.

The full list of species is:

• Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus
  • Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens (extinct, 1987)
    Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis
• Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni
  Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus
  Le Conte's Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii
  Henslow's Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii
  Baird's Sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii
  Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
  Grassland Sparrow, Ammodramus humeralis
  Yellow-browed Sparrow, Ammodramus aurifrons