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Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

General Status Rank:

Undetermined

ELCODE:

ABPBXA3010

Common Name:

Song Sparrow

Scientific Name:

Melospiza melodia

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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:

Trends

Trends

National trend = decline, need data to confirm for NWT (LWR01); Not enough data on this species to generate trends through either the BBS (H307) or Liard Valley Long-term Monitoring Program (A381)

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

Short Term Trends

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

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