Meet The 19 Incredible Sparrows Found in Michigan

Sparrows are common birds, but when we refer to sparrows, we aren’t talking about one specific bird. There are about 138 species in the New World sparrow family, Passerellidae, and about 43 Old World sparrows. In Michigan, you can find 19 types! Follow along to meet the 19 sparrows found in Michigan.

Swamp Sparrow

Scientific Name:Melospiza georgiana

Size: 4.7 to 5.9 inches long

Weight: 0.5 to 0.8 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Dark brown feathers with grey heads and brown faces.

Eastern Towhee

Scientific Name:Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Size: 6.8 to 9.1 inches long

Weight: 1.1 to 1.9 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Females are mainly brown and orange, while male eastern towhee birds have striking heads, throats, and backs and reddish sides.

Field Sparrow

Scientific Name:Spizella pusilla

Size: 4.7 to 6 inches long

Weight: 0.4 to 0.6 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Field sparrows are one of many sparrows found in Michigan. They are mainly brown with a soft white eye ring. They also have a reddish crown.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Scientific Name: Ammodramus savannarum

Size: 4 to 5 inches long

Weight: 0.4 to 0.6 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Grasshopper sparrows have cream and brown feathers and a yellow-orange stripe above their eye.

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Scientific Name:Melospiza lincolnii

Size: 5.1 to 5.9 inches long

Weight: 0.4 to 0.7 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Lincoln’s sparrows are great at hiding as they have brown and white streaked plumage.

House Sparrow

Scientific Name:Passer domesticus

Size: 5.5 to 6.7 inches

Weight: 0.9 to 1.4 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: House sparrows have chestnut, grey, and black feathers with white cheeks and streaks.

Vesper Sparrow

Scientific Name:Pooecetes gramineus

Size: 5 to 6.5 inches long

Weight: 0.7 to 1.0 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Vesper sparrows are sandy brown and grey with a distinct white ring around their eyes.

Clay-colored Sparrow

Scientific Name:Spizella pallida

Size: 5.1 to 6 inches long

Weight: 0.4 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Clay-colored sparrows are tan and grey birds with white and brown streaks. They also have a dark eye line.

LeConte’s Sparrow

Scientific Name:Ammospiza leconteii

Size: 4.5 to 5.5 inches long

Weight: 0.4 to 0.6 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: LeConte’s sparrows are light grey and brown birds with yellow markings on their face.

Henslow’s Sparrow

Scientific Name:Centronyx henslowii

Size: 4.3 to 5.1 inches long

Weight: 0.4 to 0.6 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Henslow’s sparrows are earthy birds with olive green/yellow heads.

Dark-eyed Junco

Scientific Name:Junco hyemalis

Size: 5.1 to 6.9 inches long

Weight: 0.63 to 1.06 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Male and female dark-eyed junco birds look very different. Males have dark feathers and white/light bellies.

Song Sparrow

Scientific Name:Melospiza melodia

Size: 4.3 to 7.1 inches long

Weight: 0.42 to 1.87 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Song sparrows are very common in Michigan. They have brown, white, and grey streaked plumage.

Fox Sparrow

Scientific Name:Passerella iliaca

Size: 6 to 7.5 inches long

Weight: 0.9 to 1.8 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Fox sparrows are mainly brownish-red and white. They have distinct spots and streaks throughout their body.

White-crowned Sparrow

Scientific Name:Zonotrichia leucophrys

Size: 5.9 to 6.3 inches long

Weight: 0.9 to 1.0 ounces

Identifying Characteristics:White-crowned sparrows are unique compared to other sparrows. They have black and white streaked caps.

Savannah Sparrow

Scientific Name:Passerculus sandwichensis

Size: 4.3 to 6 inches long

Weight: 0.5 to 1.0 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Savannah sparrows are brown, white, and grey.

Chipping Sparrow

Scientific Name:Spizella passerina

Size: 4.7 to 5.5 inches long

Weight: 0.4 to 0.6 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: Chipping sparrows are chestnut brown birds with light grey bellies and undersides.

American Tree Sparrow

Scientific Name:Spizelloides arborea

Size: 5.5 to 6.5 inches long

Weight: 0.5 to 1.0 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: American tree sparrows are known for having a reddish-brown cap.

White-throated Sparrow

Scientific Name:Zonotrichia albicollis

Size: 5.9 to 7.5 inches long

Weight: 0.8 to 1.3 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: They are black, brown, and white birds with white throats and yellow patches between their eyes.

Harris’s Sparrow

Scientific Name:Zonotrichia querula

Size: 6.7 to 7.9 inches long

Weight: 0.92 to 1.73 ounces

Identifying Characteristics: They are known for their striking black faces and brown, yellow, and grey bodies.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © John L. Absher/Shutterstock.com