Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 58,754 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Savannah Sparrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Savannah Sparrow
The Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is a small American sparrow. It is the only widely accepted member of the genus Passerculus. Comparison of mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 and 3 sequences indicates that the Ipswich sparrow, formerly usually considered a valid species (as Passerculus princeps), is a well-marked subspecies of the Savannah sparrow, whereas the southwestern large-billed sparrow should be recognized as a distinct species (Passerculus rostratus).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Savannah Sparrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18,100 | October | Sep–Apr |
| Texas | 12,202 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Florida | 3,018 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Washington | 2,232 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Oregon | 1,686 | April | Apr–Oct |
| New York | 1,440 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 1,432 | April | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 1,346 | May | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 1,125 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Alaska | 896 | June | May–Sep |
| Maryland | 849 | October | Oct–Feb |
| New Jersey | 777 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Arizona | 745 | January | Sep–Apr |
| Tennessee | 724 | April | Oct–May |
| Virginia | 701 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Ohio | 668 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 643 | May | May–Jul |
| North Carolina | 635 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Vermont | 631 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 595 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Alabama | 518 | November | Oct–Apr |
| South Carolina | 506 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Maine | 478 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 464 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Georgia | 450 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Minnesota | 446 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 432 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Connecticut | 402 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Delaware | 387 | October | Oct–Feb |
| Colorado | 380 | September | Apr–Sep |
| Arkansas | 358 | April | Nov–Apr |
| Idaho | 355 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Montana | 329 | June | May–Sep |
| Kansas | 315 | April | Mar–May |
| Missouri | 281 | April | Mar–May |
| Mississippi | 255 | January | Oct–Feb |
| New Mexico | 251 | February | Sep–Apr |
| Nevada | 238 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Wyoming | 217 | June | May–Aug |
| Utah | 209 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Indiana | 167 | May | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 132 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Nebraska | 118 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 118 | October | Sep–Oct |
| North Dakota | 109 | June | May–Jul |
| South Dakota | 104 | May | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 86 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 84 | February | Oct–Feb |
| West Virginia | 75 | October | Oct–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 45 | October | Oct–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Sparrows)
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Savannah Sparrow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from September to June.
Where is Savannah Sparrow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.