Song Sparrow Population Analysis
Song Sparrow has declined: down 37% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Song Sparrow
A streaky, richly singing sparrow found in brushy and wet places across most of the continent, the Song Sparrow is one of the most variable and widespread of American sparrows.
- Size
- 4.5–6.5 in long, about 0.7 oz (12–17 cm, 20 g)
- Habitat
- Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
- Diet
- Insects and seeds taken on or near the ground.
- Range
- Recorded on 2,898 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 45 states, most concentrated in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Family
- Passerellidae · Forest birds
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Notable Song Sparrow TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
No notable trend signals for Song Sparrow. See the full index history below.
Song Sparrow Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Song Sparrow is projected to fall about 16% by 2030 — from 9.7 in 2025 to a central estimate of 8.1 (95% range 6.5–9.6). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±10%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Song Sparrow Is Detected
BBS routes recording Song Sparrow, sized by most recent count.
Song Sparrow Population Trend by State
Song Sparrow Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Song Sparrow Conservation Status
Least Concern
The IUCN Red List rates this species as Least Concern. Our route-weighted index shows it down about 37% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.