Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

General Status Rank: 
Undetermined
ELCODE: 
ABPBXA3010
Common Name: 
Song Sparrow
Scientific Name: 
Melospiza melodia
Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Passeriformes
Family: 
Passeridae
References: 
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

Non-game species
References: 
Habitat
busy shrubs along water
References: 
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Plains
References: 

Distribution

18/164(11%); northern edge (B004); Sibley (LA30) shows breeding range in southern NWT and north through Mackenzie Valley to Norman Wells; records in NWT Checklist database reflect this distribution (LA20); Range extent >300,000 sq km. Range extent visually estimated from range map (Canadian Wildlife Service – Prairie & Northern Region 2009. Bird distributions in Nunavut & the Northwest Territories: 2009 Review.)
Score: 
G
References: 
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern Canada to southern US

Number of Occurrences

records in NWT Checklist database reflect distribution in southern NWT and north through Mackenzie Valley to Norman Wells;
References: 

Historical Distribution

Likely similar to current dist.
References: 

Area of Occupancy

Stable?, need data to confirm trend
Score: 
-
References: 
Population

Population Size

PIF population estimate for non-BCR3 area for NWT & NU is 20,000 but species only occurs in NWT so full value used, (Partners in Flight Science Committee 2013. Population Estimates Database, version 2013. Available at http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates. Accessed on <January 25, 2015>.)
Score: 
F
References: 
Threats

Threats

none known; parasitism by cowbirds in southern populations; Little human disturbance in the NWT, threats for this species thought to be low.
References: 

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Limited effects of climate change likely in next 10 yrs
Score: 
-
References: 
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Undetermined
Status Rank Description: 
Numbers unknown, declining population nationally
S Rank: 
SU
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Leslie Wakelyn and S. Carriere mostly based on printed material in 2000; Reviewed in 2005 by Craig Machtans and L. Armer - no change in status.; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed by Emily Upham-Mills CWS in 2015, no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
September 17, 2020

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Machtans, C. S., K. J. Kardynal, and P. A. Smith. 2014. (2014) Avian Conservation and Ecology 9(1):5. http://dx.doi.org/105751/ACE-00649-090105 - A381 Return
  • Emily Upham-Mills and Rhiannon Pankratz (2015) e-copy - H307 Return

Economic Status

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • National Geographic Society (1999) Field Guide to the Birds of North America.. National Geographic Society Third Edition EC-CWS, Yellowknife - LWB02 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return
  • Arcese, P., Sogge, M.K., Marr, A.B., Patten, M.A. (2002) Song Sparrow in Birds of North America. No.704, The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. - LA29 Return
  • Emily Upham-Mills and Rhiannon Pankratz (2015) e-copy - H307 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Canadian Wildlife Service (2005) NWT/NU Bird Checklist Survey database. Environment Canada / Canadian Wildlife Service Yellowknife http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/nature/migratorybirds/nwtbcs/index.en.html - LA20 Return

Population Size

Rich, T.D., Beardmore, C.J., Berlanga, H., Blancher, P.J., Bradstreet, M.S.W., Butcher, G.S., Demarest, D.W Dunn, E.H., Hunter, W.C., Inigo-Elias, E.E., Kennedy, J.A., Martell, A.M., Panjabi, A.O.,et al. (2004) Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (janv-04). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithica, NY http://www.partnersinflight.org/cont_plan/default.htm - LA01 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Canadian Wildlife Service (2005) NWT/NU Bird Checklist Survey database. Environment Canada / Canadian Wildlife Service Yellowknife http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/nature/migratorybirds/nwtbcs/index.en.html - LA20 Return
  • Sibley, D.A. (2003) The Sibley field guide to birds of Western North America. 1st ed./Audubon,422, Chanticleer Press New York, NY - LA30 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return
  • Arcese, P., Sogge, M.K., Marr, A.B., Patten, M.A. (2002) Song Sparrow in Birds of North America. No.704, The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. - LA29 Return
  • Emily Upham-Mills and Rhiannon Pankratz (2015) e-copy - H307 Return