Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 181,386 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Song Sparrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Song Sparrow
The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a medium-sized American sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant, variable and adaptable species.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Song Sparrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 44,492 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Washington | 13,420 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 9,834 | April | Oct–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 9,129 | April | Dec–Aug |
| New York | 8,545 | April | Jan–Nov |
| Ohio | 8,365 | May | Jan–Jul |
| Oregon | 8,216 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Virginia | 6,794 | March | Oct–Jul |
| Maryland | 6,195 | January | Oct–Jul |
| Texas | 5,410 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Illinois | 5,272 | April | Mar–Jul |
| New Jersey | 4,123 | March | Oct–Jul |
| Vermont | 4,107 | April | Mar–Jul |
| North Carolina | 3,841 | January | Oct–Jul |
| Minnesota | 3,652 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 3,097 | January | Oct–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 2,866 | May | Mar–Aug |
| Michigan | 2,824 | May | Mar–Aug |
| Maine | 2,519 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Connecticut | 2,340 | October | Oct–Aug |
| Colorado | 2,270 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Arizona | 2,227 | April | Nov–Jun |
| Utah | 2,019 | May | Nov–Jul |
| Georgia | 1,829 | January | Oct–Jul |
| Indiana | 1,648 | May | Jan–Jul |
| Idaho | 1,454 | April | Nov–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 1,369 | July | Mar–Aug |
| South Carolina | 1,297 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Rhode Island | 1,023 | May | Jan–Aug |
| Kentucky | 945 | March | Oct–Aug |
| Missouri | 911 | March | Oct–May |
| West Virginia | 885 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Alabama | 858 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Alaska | 847 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Delaware | 783 | January | Oct–May |
| New Mexico | 654 | December | Oct–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 617 | March | Oct–Jul |
| Kansas | 491 | March | Oct–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 491 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Montana | 483 | June | Feb–Oct |
| Nevada | 455 | January | Oct–May |
| Arkansas | 437 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Iowa | 378 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Louisiana | 343 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Wyoming | 312 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Florida | 307 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Nebraska | 301 | April | Mar–May |
| South Dakota | 271 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Mississippi | 265 | January | Nov–Feb |
| North Dakota | 175 | May | Apr–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Sparrows)
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah 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 Song Sparrow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Song Sparrow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Pennsylvania.