Summer Songster of Grasslands
Overview
The Savannah Sparrow's is a common sound heard in open fields and grasslands in Vermont from late April to October. They are more often heard than seen, singing from low exposed perches such as grass stems and shrubs. They build cup-shaped nests hidden in dense grasses where they raise their young.
Conservation
Savannah Sparrows are still a widespread breeding bird in Vermont, but are declining due to being very sensitive to changes in grassland habitats. The biggest threat is early and frequent mowing of the fields they nest in, which destroy their nests and young. Delaying mowing until later in the summer allows the birds to complete their nesting cycle.