Birds
Harris's Sparrow
Zonotrichia querula · also called Harris's sparrows
At a backyard feeder in the central United States, a Harris’s sparrow displays its bold black hood, the largest native sparrow in North America, having journeyed south from a remote stretch of Canadian tundra-edge spruce so inaccessible that its nest went undiscovered by scientists for decades.
Overview
Harris’s sparrow, Zonotrichia querula, is the largest native sparrow in North America, breeding in remote tundra-edge spruce habitat across northern Canada and wintering in grassland, shrubland, and open woodland across the central United States. Its striking black hood, remarkably narrow and inaccessible breeding range, and long migratory journey make it one of the more geographically and visually distinctive sparrows on the continent.
A common backyard bird with a secretive breeding life
Despite becoming a familiar visitor to feeders across the central United States each winter, Harris’s sparrow keeps its breeding life almost entirely hidden within one of the most remote and inaccessible corners of northern Canada.
Status
Least Concern, though showing a decreasing trend for reasons not entirely well understood, possibly linked to changes on its central United States wintering grounds.
Harris's Sparrow: common questions
Why was Harris's sparrow's nest not found for so long?
This species breeds exclusively in an extremely remote region of stunted spruce and tundra transition habitat in northern Canada, an area so difficult to access that its nest was not documented by scientists until well into the 20th century, decades after the species itself had already been described from specimens collected elsewhere.
How can you identify Harris's sparrow?
Look for a striking black hood covering the crown, face, and throat in a breeding adult, contrasting sharply with a pale grey face and pink bill, combined with the species' notably large size, being the largest sparrow native to North America.
Where does Harris's sparrow spend the winter?
This species winters across grassland, shrubland, and open woodland in the central United States, where it commonly visits backyard bird feeders, having completed a long migration south from its remote breeding grounds in the tundra-edge spruce habitat of northern Canada.
Why has Harris's sparrow declined?
The reasons are not entirely well understood, but the species has shown a decreasing population trend possibly linked to changes on its central United States wintering grounds, even though its remote northern Canadian breeding habitat has faced comparatively little direct human disturbance.