Birdsong field guide
Henslow's Sparrow
Centronyx henslowii
A secretive, flat-headed grassland sparrow distinguished by its olive-colored face and intricate brown patterning. It is a specialist of dense, unfragmented meadows and is often heard far more frequently than it is seen.
What it sounds like
A very brief, mechanical two-note song sounding like a sharp 'tsi-lick'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It possesses one of the shortest and simplest songs of any North American bird, often described as a feeble, metallic hiccup.
- The species is highly terrestrial and typically prefers to run through thick grass like a mouse rather than take flight when disturbed.
- It is a 'grassland obligate' that requires a thick layer of accumulated dead grass (duff) from previous years for successful nesting.
- John James Audubon named the bird after John Stevens Henslow, a clergyman and botanist who was a mentor to Charles Darwin.
- The population has suffered significant declines due to habitat fragmentation, making it a high-priority species for conservation groups.
Habitat
Tallgrass prairies, wet meadows, and undisturbed hayfields with dense vegetation and a thick litter layer.
Range
Breeds in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States; winters in the grassy pine savannas of the Southeastern United States.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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