Grasshopper Sparrow

The Grasshopper Sparrow gets its name from its buzzy insect-like song, which is often rendered as “chip chip bzzzzzzzzzzzzz.” Contrast this with the longer trill of the co-occurring and more common Savannah Sparrow, whose song also typically has a distinctly separate ending note. Learning this song is important, since Grasshopper Sparrows are just as likely to sing from deep in grasses as they are from an exposed perch. They also have a more complex twittery song that sometimes follows the primary song, and which is used mainly in connection with females.

Like other grassland birds, the Grasshopper Sparrow is less common today than it was in the early 1900s, when it occurred regularly into the Lakes Region. Now it is confined to a handful of sites in the southwest, along the Merrimack Valley, and near the Seacoast. The largest and most reliable populations in New Hampshire are at airports or capped landfills, with the Concord Airport alone hosting 40% of the state’s 40-50 pairs. Although most birds are at 6-8 reliable sites, every year there are one of two reports from elsewhere in these core regions, suggesting that sparrows are periodically exploring nearby areas of suitable habitat.

Grasshopper Sparrows prefer drier and sparser grasslands, and rarely occur in habitats like hayfields with Bobolinks and meadowlarks. This makes them less vulnerable to nest losses due to frequent mowing. At the same time, airports are required to mow certain areas for safety reasons, which can limit the portion of an airfield that is suitable for these sparrows. Restrictions on mowing at Concord for the endangered Karner Blue butterfly might be one reason it supports a high Grasshopper Sparrow population. Capped landfills are even better since there’s no need for mowing during the breeding season, but these sites are at increasing risk from development for solar panels, and the effects of these on grassland birds are still largely unknown.