Ammodramus savannarum floridanus
| Ammodramus savannarum floridanus | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Emberizidae |
| Genus: | Ammodramus |
| Species: | A. savannarum |
| Subspecies: | A. s. floridanus |
| Trinomial name | |
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Ammodramus savannarum floridanus (Mearns, 1902) |
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The Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus) is an endangered subspecies of grasshopper sparrow native to the dry prairies of south-central Florida.
The Florida grasshopper sparrow is one of four subspecies of grasshopper sparrows in North America, and is perhaps the most endangered. Despite biologists' best efforts, attempts at improving the declining population have been largely unsuccessful.
The Florida grasshopper sparrow is a small sparrow with a short tail and rounded head, averaging 13 cm in total length when fully grown. Like most grasshopper sparrows, their wings are brown, white, and grey in color, with patches of yellow on their alula and supercilium. Adult sparrows have white undersides with a buff throat and breast, while juveniles have streaked breasts. The Florida grasshopper sparrow has a longer bill and tarsi than other subspecies, and lacks reddish streaks on its nape.
The song of the Florida grasshopper sparrow sounds much like that of a grasshopper, which is where it gets its name. Males only sing a few hours a day during the breeding season, and they often perch on twigs or dead palmetto leaves to sing when available. Singing most frequently occurs during the early morning and early evening hours, around sunrise and sunset.
Though some migratory grasshopper sparrows are distributed throughout parts of both North and South America, the Florida grasshopper sparrow is a non-migratory species, and is thus limited in distribution to the prairie region of south-central Florida. Counties in Florida where this species has been sighted include Glades, Highlands, Polk, Okeechobee, and Osceola counties.
Habitat requirements for the Florida grasshopper sparrow are quite specific. Recommended habitat consists of large tracts of poorly drained grasslands with a frequent history of fire and a limited number of trees (less than one tree per acre). Common plant species found in this habitat include bluestem and wiregrass, with occasional saw palmettos as well. As grasshopper sparrows are largely a ground-dwelling species, some bare ground is necessary as well to provide areas for movement and foraging purposes.
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Wikipedia