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Monarch caterpillar

Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find a Bird

Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis

The Savannah Sparrow is a very common migrant and a common, fairly widespread nesting bird in Massachusetts wherever meadows, hayfields, heathlands, or coastal sand dunes exist. Its abundance and distribution patterns seem to be in conflict, as it has become more widespread and yet less numerous.
Conservation Status
Continued Action/Monitoring Needed

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Highly Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.50
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.23
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
-0.27
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
-7.40
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
240
Atlas II Blocks
427
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
24
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
41
Percent change
154

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
-3%
P-value
significant, declining
Number of routes
19
Recent trend 2000-2010
-2.7%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
2
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
3
Significantly different than zero
no
Trend (1979-2008)
2
Significantly different than zero
yes
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Coastal, Grassland

Wintering

Coastal, Grassland, Saltmarsh, Shrubland

Climate Suitability Current and 2050