Le Conte's Sparrow
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[Photo] Le Conte's Sparrow, Photo taken on breeding territory in Port Wing, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, USA. Date June 15, 2005. Author Laura Erickson

The Le Conte's Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii, is a small sparrow.

Adults have streaked dark and light brown upperparts with a light brown breast and white belly with fine streaks on the side. They have a large flat head with a light crown stripe on a dark crown, an orange face with a grey cheek patch. The large bill is dark and they have a short tail.

Their breeding habitat is moist grassland across central Canada to Quebec and central northern United States. The nest is an open cup attached to dead grass, sometimes on the ground.

These birds migrate to the southeastern United States.

They forage on the ground usually in dense grass, mainly eating insects and seeds.

The male sings from a concealed location. The song is a sharp tik followed by a hiss similar to the song of Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow.

John James Audubon named this bird after a friend, Doctor Le Conte. It is generally believed that he meant John Lawrence Le Conte, although some feel that he was referring to another John Le Conte, also a doctor, and John Lawrence's cousin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Conte%27s_Sparrow

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