New World Sparrows
Spizelloides arborea
The American Tree Sparrow is a plump, long-tailed sparrow, often seen in flocks during winter. Despite its name, it primarily forages and nests on the ground rather than in trees. This species is a common winter visitor across much of North America, known for its distinctive rusty cap and musical calls.
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
Adults have a distinct rusty or chestnut-colored cap on their head.
The bill is two-toned, with a dark upper mandible and a yellow lower mandible.
A small, dark smudge or spot is often visible in the center of its otherwise plain gray breast.
Two noticeable white bars are present on its brown wings.
02 / A place in the world
During the breeding season, American Tree Sparrows inhabit tundra and scrubby areas at or above the treeline in northern Canada and Alaska. In winter, they can be found in open country, weedy fields, forest edges, marshes, and suburban areas.
This species breeds in northern Alaska and northern Canada, extending east to Labrador and south to northern British Columbia and central Quebec. It winters across southern Canada and throughout much of the contiguous United States, reaching as far south as eastern New Mexico and northern Georgia.
American Tree Sparrows are migratory, traveling long distances between their breeding grounds in the far North and their wintering areas. They undertake nocturnal migrations. Males may begin singing before their northward migration in late winter.
03 / Listen a little closer
Their calls are often described as high, musical two-note notes, and their song is a series of soft, musical twitters and whistles.
04 / The life behind the feathers
Their diet primarily consists of seeds from grasses, sedges, and other plants, especially during fall and winter. They also consume berries, buds, and insects, including beetles, flies, and caterpillars, particularly during the summer breeding season.
These sparrows primarily forage on the ground, hopping and scratching to uncover seeds. They may also flutter at seed-laden grass heads or low shrubs to dislodge food.
Nests are typically open cups constructed by the female from twigs, grasses, and moss, lined with fine grass and feathers. They are usually built on or near the ground, often within grass clumps beneath shrubs or on tundra hummocks. Females lay 4-6 pale bluish or greenish eggs with brownish spotting.
American Tree Sparrows are diurnal and often form small to large flocks during the non-breeding season. Males establish and defend territories on the breeding grounds, while both parents care for the young.
One more reason to pay attention
The American Tree Sparrow was moved to its own genus, *Spizelloides*, in 2014, based on genetic evidence.
Despite its name, the American Tree Sparrow is not closely related to the Eurasian Tree Sparrow; its name comes from early European settlers.
The oldest recorded American Tree Sparrow lived to be at least 10 years and 9 months old.
05 / An eye for the difference
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.
