Introduction
The Song Sparrow is among the most common birds in the state. It exhibits the most phenotypic variation of nearly any species across its broad range (Arcese et al. 2020), though Song Sparrows in Virginia bear a familiar gray-brown palette with a dark central breast spot. One of its many subspecies, Melospiza melodia atlantica, was described from a type specimen collected in Northampton County (Todd 1924) and inhabits Mid-Atlantic salt marshes. The Song Sparrow is a partial migrant, meaning some birds are permanent residents and others migrate. The species occurs year-round in Virginia but vacates the southern-central region of the state come summer.
Breeding Distribution
Although Song Sparrows are common throughout the state in winter, the species is most likely to occur throughout the Mountains and Valleys region and in larger urban areas in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions (Figure 1). The species also occurs on the Eastern Shore, along the Virginia Peninsula, and in the vicinity of Virginia Beach, likely representing subspecies M. m. atlantica. The likelihood of Song Sparrows occurrence increases in blocks as the amount of agricultural and developed areas and forest edge habitat increases but decreases in those with higher proportions of shrubland and grassland habitats and a greater diversity of habitat types.
Between Atlases (Figures 1 and 2), the Song Sparrow’s likely occurrence decreased throughout much of the central and southern Piedmont region and some small areas in the Coastal Plain region, possibly due to a loss of agricultural land cover (Figure 3). However, the distribution model for the First Atlas was considered weak, meaning the model could not distinguish between presence and absence well (see Analytical Methods). Fewer samples in this region and its low breeding population mean caution is warranted in interpreting this apparent change in occurrence as a true decline.
Figure 1: Song Sparrow breeding distribution based on probability of occurrence (Second Atlas, 2016–2020). This map indicates the probability that this species will occur in an Atlas block (an approximately 10 mi2 [26 km2] survey unit) based on environmental (including habitat) factors and after adjusting for the probability of detection (variation in survey effort among blocks).
Figure 2: Song Sparrow breeding distribution based on probability of occurrence (First Atlas, 1985–1989). This map indicates the probability that this species will occur in an Atlas block (an approximately 10 mi2 [26 km2] survey unit) based on environmental (including habitat) factors and after adjusting for the probability of detection (variation in survey effort among blocks). Blocks in white were not surveyed during the First Atlas and were not modeled.
Figure 3: Song Sparrow change in breeding distribution between Atlases (1985–1989 and 2016–2020) based on probability of occurrence. This map indicates the change in the probability that this species will occur in a block (an approximately 10 mi2 [26 km2] survey unit) between Atlas periods. Blocks with no change (tan) may have constant presence or constant absence. Blocks in white were not surveyed during the First Atlas and were not modeled.
Breeding Evidence
Song Sparrows were confirmed breeders in 516 blocks and 98 counties and probable breeders in an additional 16 counties (Figure 4). Song Sparrows were observed breeding in all regions of the state during both Atlas periods, but observations were rare in the southern Piedmont and interior Coastal Plain regions (Figures 4 and 5).
The earliest confirmed breeding behavior was documented on March 11 (occupied nest), and the latest was recorded on October 1 (feeding young). Observers documented the species exhibiting every type of breeding activity as Song Sparrows are extremely tolerant of disturbance near the nest (Arcese et al. 2020).
For more general information on the breeding habits of the Song Sparrow, please refer to All About Birds.
Figure 4: Song Sparrow breeding observations from the Second Atlas (2016–2020). The colored boxes illustrate Atlas blocks (approximately 10 mi2 [26 km2] survey units) where the species was detected. The colors show the highest breeding category recorded in a block. The numbers within the colors in the legend correspond to the number of blocks with that breeding evidence category.
Figure 5: Song Sparrow breeding observations from the First Atlas (1985–1989). The colored boxes illustrate Atlas blocks (approximately 10 mi2 [26 km2] survey units) where the species was detected. The colors show the highest breeding category recorded in a block. The numbers within the colors in the legend correspond to the number of blocks with that breeding evidence category.
Figure 6: Song Sparrow phenology: confirmed breeding codes. This graph shows a timeline of confirmed breeding behaviors. Tick marks represent individual observations of the behavior.
Population Status
Song Sparrow relative abundance was estimated to be highest in the Mountains and Valleys region, especially in the agricultural valleys, and in the urban areas of Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads-Virginia Beach (Figure 7).
The total estimated Song Sparrow population in the state is approximately 1,057,000 individuals (with a range between 888,000 and 1,261,000), making it one of the most abundant species of those that were modeled. Population trends for Song Sparrow are stable to decreasing in Virginia. The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) population trend from 1966–2022 showed a nonsignificant increase of just 0.17%, meaning models do not show any significant trend, but between Atlases, it showed a significant decline of 0.91% per year from 1987–2018 (Hostetler et al. 2023; Figure 7).
Figure 7: Song Sparrow relative abundance (Second Atlas, 2016–2020). This map indicates the predicted abundance of this species at a 0.4 mi2 (1 km2) scale based on environmental (including habitat) factors. Abundance values are presented on a relative scale of low to high.
Figure 8: Song Sparrow population trend for Virginia as estimated by the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The vertical axis shows species abundance; the horizontal axis shows the year. The solid line indicates the estimated population trend; there is a 97.5% probability that the true population trend falls between the dashed lines. The shaded bars indicate the First and Second Atlas periods.
Conservation
Because Song Sparrows are extremely abundant and widespread, this species is not the focus of any specific conservation efforts in Virginia.
Interactive Map
The interactive map contains up to six Atlas layers (probability of occurrence for the First and Second Atlases, change in probability of occurrence between Atlases, breeding evidence for the First and Second Atlases, and abundance for the Second Atlas) that can be viewed one at a time. To view an Atlas map layer, mouse over the layer box in the upper left. County lines and physiographic regional boundaries (Mountains and Valleys, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain) can be turned on and off by checking or unchecking the box below the layer box. Within the map window, users can hover on a block to see its value for each layer and pan and zoom to see roads, towns, and other features of interest that are visible beneath a selected layer.
View Interactive Map in Full Screen
References
Arcese, P., M. K. Sogge, A. B. Marr, and M. A. Patten (2020). Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.sonspa.01.
Hostetler, J. A., J. R. Sauer, J. E. Hines, D. Ziolkowski, and M. Lutmerding (2023). The North American breeding bird survey, analysis results 1966–2022. U.S. Geological Survey, Laurel, MD, USA. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9SC7T11.
Rottenborn, S. C., and E. S. Brinkley (Editors) (2007). Virginia’s birdlife: An annotated checklist. 4th edition. Virginia Society of Ornithology.
Todd, W. E. C. (1924). A new Song Sparrow from Virginia. The Auk 41:147–148. https://doi.org/10.2307/4074098.
