Grasshopper Sparrows In Florida

[Ira Runyan]

Two subspecies of Grasshopper Sparrows can be found in Florida. Only one subspecies, the endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum oridanus) breeds in Florida. Most Florida Grasshopper Sparrows are located on public lands at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area (Osceola County), and Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (Okeechobee County).

Another subspecies, the Eastern Grasshopper Sparrow (A. s. pratensis) can be found across the state in the winter months. It takes an expert to tell these two subspecies apart.

The Grasshopper Sparrow is a brown and tan bird with light streaking. The belly is white but the entire breast is unstreaked and buffy. The back is mottled tan, black, and chestnut, and isn’t as streaky as other sparrows. The face is relatively plain with a conspicuous complete white eye-ring. They have a orange-yellow spot between the eye and bill (the lore) and they have a white crown strip on the top of the head.

Below are two photographs I took of a Grasshopper Sparrow at the MIT parking lot west of the Viera Wetlands back in October of 2009.

[equetefue]

ohhh i like this. Lots of detail

[Ira Runyan]

The Tampa Bay Times newspaper has been printing a number of news articles about the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow that's in danger of becoming extinct. You can read the articles at: Fight to save nearly extinct sparrow

[Ira Runyan]

The only hope to prevent extinction of the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow may have been to remove some of the last birds from the wild for captive breeding. A captive bird breeding program was set up, but after several years the funding for the project has ended and the effort seems to be doomed to total failure. As a result, it looks like the endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow may become extent soon, maybe within the nest couple of years.

The Audubon Magazine in the fall of 2017 printed a article about the apparently doomed captive breeding program. You can read it on line at:

Inside the Race to Save the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, North America’s Most Endangered Bird

[Ira Runyan]

If you want further information on the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow and information on how it differs from the northern subspecies, I recommend you read

Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum floridanus a 22 page long PDF file.

[Tim Abbott]

Tanks for all the info Ira.

[frank]

This sad saga reminds me of our Dusky seaside sparrow's extinction which was totally due to us altering/destroying their habitat.

[fishwithfeet]

Love the info!