Sparrows Wintering in Atlantic and Gulf Coast Salt Marshes

     Three kinds of sparrows, seaside, saltmarsh and Nelson's, are well adapted to wintering in the grassy and shrubby habitats of extensive salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.  And being sparrows, they are small, mostly brown, which camouflages them in their niches, secretive in habits and not readily noticeable.  But, although they are inconspicuous, they are a major part of salt marshes in winter; as much so as black ducks, brant and northern harriers.   
     Seaside sparrows are the most endemic of these species because they live permanently, and only, in the wetter parts of salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.  They are gray all over,  accentuated with darker streaks to blend into their surroundings.  They have a small, diagnostic streak of yellow in front of each eye to the base of the beak which identifies them.  This species eats insects, small snails and tiny crustaceans in the warmer months, and mostly seeds in winter.  Males sing a buzzy "ch,ch-zeeeeeeeeeee" during the summer nesting season.  Those songs, which are often difficult for us to hear, have the same rthymn as red-winged blackbird males' boisterous "konk-ga-reeeee".  Red-wings are another marsh breeder.     
     Saltmarsh sparrows are restricted to the drier sections of salt marshes on the Atlantic Shore.  One can see that seaside sparrows and saltmarsh sparrows have reduced competition for space and food with each other by living in different parts of salt marsh habitats.  Handsome little birds, saltmarsh sparrows are brown, with ample striping, and a bit smaller than seaside sparrows.  And the present species has an orange triangle around each eye and a gray patch in each triangle.  This type of sparrow feeds on seeds for the most part.  Males sing a buzzy "kip, kip-zeeeee", which is somewhat similar to the seaside sparrows' songs, and, again hard for us to hear.
     Nelson's sparrows breed on the prairie and tundra of Canada, but winter in salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts in the United States.  They probably developed that life style thousands of years ago when the only vast, open, grassy areas in a temperate zone in winter was salt marshes along the coast.  Most all the land in the east at that time was forested. 
     Nelson's sparrows are similar to the saltmarsh sparrows in appearance, song, food choice and lifestyle, showing their close genetic relationship.  In fact, they were once lumped together as one species called the sharp-tailed sparrow.       
     Though these sparrows are hard to spot in the dense vegetation of their cold, windy habitat in winter, it is neat to know they are adapted to such a harsh environment.  And it's interesting to note they use different parts of each salt marsh to reduce competition for space and food among themselves.  They are intriguing little birds in an interesting landscape.