Zonotrichia querula

Breeds n-central Canada; > to s US.

Harris's sparrows (Zonotrichia querula) have wide, but distinct breeding and non-breeding ranges. The breeding range includes north central Canada, the forest-tundra zones of Ontario, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. Harris's sparrows follow a fall and spring migration path linking northern Canada and the central United States plain states. During the winter/non-breeding season they range from South Dakota to Texas, usually staying within the central plain states, but occasionally groups wander as far as Florida, Ontario, or California. There are no reported Harris sparrows outside of North America.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations, but breeds in a single nation

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Non-breeding

Global Range: BREEDING: northwestern and east-central Mackenzie and southern Keewatin south to northeastern Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario (Norment and Shackleton 1993, AOU 1998). NON-BREEDING: primarily northern Nebraska, South Dakota, and central Iowa south to south-central Texas, but also regularly north to southeastern Alaska, southern British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, northeastern Saskatchewan and North Dakota, west to southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, southern Arizona, and southern New Mexico, and east to western Tennessee, Arkansas, and northwestern Louisiana (Norment and Shackleton 1993, AOU 1998).

Harris's sparrows are the largest sparrow in North America at 19 cm in length. Average mass is 36.4 g with an average wingspan of 26.7 cm. They have a pink bill and a black crown, face and bib that varies by season and age. Harris's sparrows in non-breeding plumage are brown overall with buffy cheeks, black throats (occasionally with a narrow white band), and white bellies. Breeding sparrows have extensive black patches on crown and throat, with gray cheeks. Juveniles look similar to non-breeding adults, but have a white throat with a dark malar stripe and a dark breast band. All ages and plumages feature a postocular patch that can be brown or black in color.

Average mass: 36.4 g.

Average length: 19 cm.

Average wingspan: 26.7 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Length: 19 cm

Weight: 39 grams

Systems

• Terrestrial

In the breeding season, Harris's sparrows occupy mixed forest-tundra zones in northern Canada. They seek out shrubby vegetation to shelter their ground scrape nests. Harris's sparrows overwinter in the southern central United States. They are often found feeding in agricultural fields, pastures or scrubby hedgerows.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; polar ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; savanna or grassland ; scrub forest

Other Habitat Features: agricultural

Comments: BREEDING: Forest-tundra zone of northern Canada bounded on the south by a 1000:1 ratio of tree:upland tundra cover and on the north by a 1:1000 ratio of tree:upland tundra cover (Norment and Shackleton 1993, Timoney et al. 1992). Woody vegetation of this forest-tundra mosaic includes white spruce (PICEA GLAUCA), black spruce (P. MARIANA), larch (LARIX LARICINA), jack pine (PINUS BANKSIANA), paper birch (BETULA PAPYRIFERA), dwarf birch (BETULA GLANDULOSA), willow (SALIX spp.), alder (ALNUS spp.), Labrador tea (LEDUM spp.), bilberry (VACCINIUM ULIGINOSUM), mountain cranberry (VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA), and crowberry (EMPETRUM NIGRUM).

Nests are located on the ground, typically under a shrub that is on top of, or next to, a hummock. Nests may also be located beneath rock or turf overhangs (Norment and Shackleton 1993). In The Northwest Territories, most nests are concealed amid dwarf birch (68 percent), alder (8 percent) spruce (8 percent), and Labrador tea (8 percent; Norment 1992). In Manitoba, most nests are hidden by Labrador tea (53 percent), willow (11 percent), and dwarf birch (11 percent; Norment and Shackleton 1993). Nest entrances are often oriented to the southeast, opposite the direction of prevailing storms (Norment 1993, Norment and Shackleton 1993).

NON-BREEDING: Habitat descriptions from throughout the winter range include: thickets/brush bordering streams, edges of low woodlands, brush and brushy places, hedgerows, and willow thickets in ravines (Swenk and Stevens 1929). In Oklahoma, concentrates in forested ravines, thick shrubbery along creeks and at the edges of woods, brush piles, and vine-covered trees and thickets (Bridgwater 1966, Nice 1929). In Kansas, inhabits hedgerows (Graul 1967).

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Migrates mainly at night in flocks (Norment and Shackleton 1993). Early spring migrants begin moving northward in late February and early March, but large numbers do not move until late April or May (Baumgartner 1968). Generally arrive on breeding grounds in late May, but arrival dates vary with weather (Norment and Shackleton 1993, Semple and Sutton 1932). Males and females arrive simultaneously (Norment 1992). Leave breeding grounds in late August and early September and arrive on wintering grounds from mid-November through mid-December (Bridgwater 1966, Graul 1967, Norment and Shackleton 1993, Swenk and Stevens 1929).

During the breeding season, Harris's sparrows eat seeds, fruits, arthropods, and conifer needles. During winter and migrations, they limit their diet to seeds and fruit. In general, they are ground feeders and will kick at nearby vegetation with their feet until the seed or fruit falls down to ground level.

Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Primary Diet: omnivore

Comments: Feeds primarily on the ground, scratching and kicking away ground litter with its feet; forages less frequently among branches of trees (Nice 1929, Semple and Sutton 1932).

BREEDING: Stomach contents of six individuals was 66 percent plant material and 34 percent animal material. Plant foods included seeds of grasses, sedges (CAREX spp., CYPERUS spp.), bulrushes (SCIRPUS spp.), birch (BETULA spp.), pigweed (AMARANTHUS spp.), and lamb's-quarters (CHENOPODIUM spp.); fruits of blueberry (VACCINIUM spp.), crowberry, and bearberry (ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI); and oats (spilled on nearby railroad tracks). The six stomachs also contained grit and the remains of insects (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Homoptera), spiders and snails (Semple and Sutton 1932). Based on foraging observations of adults and analysis of 18 stomachs of adults, persistent fruits (ARCTOSTAPHYLOS ALPINA, E. NIGRUM, VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA, VACCINIUM ULIGINOSUM) comprised most of the diet prior to nesting (82 percent of foraging observations) and arthropods comprised most of the diet during the nestling period (72.5 percent of observations). Arthropods comprised 81.5 percent of the diet of nestlings Norment and Fuller 1997).

NON-BREEDING: In Oklahoma, food includes seeds of sunflower and pigweed (AMARANTHUS spp.), poison-ivy berries (RHUS TOXICODENDRON), elm blossoms (ULMUS spp.) and weed seeds (Bridgwater 1966, Nice 1929). In Kansas, consumed grit from the roads (Graul 1967). Based on the dissection of 100 stomachs collected from Texas through Saskatchewan, the winter diet is 92 percent plant material and 8 percent animal material. Winter plant foods include seeds of ragweed (AMBROSIA spp.), knotweed (POLYGONUM spp.), pigweed, lamb's-quarters, gromwell (LITHOSPERMUM spp.), sunflowers, bluestem (ANDROPOGON spp.), crabgrass (DIGITARIA spp.), foxtail (SETARIA spp.), and Johnson grass (SORGHUM spp.). Also consumes wild fruits, waste corn, wheat, and oats. Winter animal foods include insects (principally leafhoppers), spiders and snails (Judd 1901 cited in Swenk and Stevens 1929). Stomach contents of five birds collected in fall was 99 percent plant and 1 percent animal matter, 75 specimens collected in winter consumed 94 percent plant and 6 percent animal material, and 21 spring-collected individuals consumed 80 percent plant and 25 percent animal material. Plant foods include seeds of ragweed, knotweed, foxtail, lamb's-quarters, panic grass (PANICUM spp.), timothy (PHLEUM spp.). Also waste corn, wheat, and oats. Animal foods include insects (especially leafhoppers), spiders and snails (Martin et al. 1951).

Harris's sparrows are used as a host by nasal mites Ptilonyssus morofskyi and Ptilonyssus sairae. Several species of feather lice Ricinus hastatus, Ricinus fringillae, Philopterus subflavescens, and Ceratophylus garei are also prevalent. As they are largely seed-eaters, Harris's sparrows are likely an important seed dispersant.

Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• Nasal mites Ptilonyssus morofskyi
• Nasal mites Ptilonyssus sairae
• Feather lice Ricinus hastatus
• Feather lice Ricinus fringillae
• Feather lice Philopterus subflavescens
• Feather lice Ceratophylus garei

Known predators include arctic ground squirrels and short tailed weasels which are most prevalent during the breeding season. Since nests are on the ground, Harris's sparrows provide an easy target for these terrestrial predators. Otherwise, northern shrikes and merlins are their main predators.

As an anti-predator adaptation, Harris's sparrows fly up into trees when startled by humans. They duck down to the ground when threatened by other birds. They also produce alarm calls when threatened to alert others.

Known Predators:

• Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii)
• Short tailed weasels (Mustela erminea)
• Northern shrikes (Lanius excubitor)
• Merlins (Falco columbarius)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

Age at first breeding is unknown, but is probably one year as in other ZONOTRICHIA (Norment, pers. comm.). Longevity record is 11 years, 8 months (Norment and Shackleton 1993). Densities of breeding populations are estimated to be 0.025 territorial males per hectare, and 0.125-0.82 breeding pairs per hectare (Gillespie and Kendeigh 1982, Norment 1992, Norment and Shackleton 1993). The maximum number observed during a Christmas Bird Count was 26.1 birds per party hour (Root 1988). Numbers observed at particular localities during winter varies within and among years because birds frequently shift locations (Graul 1967). The sex ratio on the breeding grounds is 1:1 (Norment 1992).

In the Northwest Territories, overall return rate for banded birds (both sexes) to the breeding grounds was 38 percent. Males and females that nest successfully usually return to the same breeding area in subsequent years; some unsuccessful breeders also exhibit site fidelity. Males sometimes occupy the same nesting territory in different years, but females apparently do not (Norment 1994). Territories averaged 2 hectares, but birds foraged up to 500 meters outside territories (Norment 1992).

The males sing from exposed perches in their respective territories. Males sing 1 to 3 song types, and their song is not directed solely at females; the males also use song to communicate with each other across territories.

The extent of black "bib" coloration on the throat and breast of male Harris's sparrows communicates rank. Males with larger bibs, regardless of age, are often perceived as higher ranked than males with smaller bibs.

Harris's sparrows perceive their habitat through visual, tactile, auditory and chemical stimuli.

Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic

The longest known lifespan in the wild is 11 years, 8 months.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 140 (high) months.

Maximum longevity: 11.7 years (wild)

Both sexes arrive at breeding sites at the same time following migration and males establish territories shortly upon arrival. Pairs form within 7 days, and nest building (on the ground, usually under or near shrubby vegetation) begins in mid June. Harris's sparrows are a monogamous species, but length of pair bond is currently unknown. Some research has shown slight site fidelity, with males more likely to return than females and both are more likely to return to a successful breeding site. It is unknown whether successful breeding pairs reunite in subsequent years.

Mating System: monogamous

Harris's sparrows breed from late May or early June until August. They begin laying their eggs 14 days after arrival to the breeding site. They lay 3 to 5 (4 to 5 average) eggs per clutch, and one clutch per season. The eggs take 13 to 14 days to hatch and chicks are born weighing about 3.1 g. Chicks fledge after 8.5 to 10 days and they reach independence after two more weeks.

Breeding interval: Harris's sparrows have 1 brood per year.

Breeding season: Harris's sparrows breed from late May or early June to August.

Range eggs per season: 3 to 5.

Average eggs per season: 4-5.

Range time to hatching: 13 to 14 days.

Average birth mass: 3.1 g.

Average time to independence: 2 weeks.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Nests are built either out in the open or under low shrubbery with minimal insulation, so to keep the egg temperatures in optimum range the female spends long stretches sitting on the nest. Females incubate eggs for about 80% of the day, increasing or decreasing in response to ambient temperature. Both parents feed the nestlings, though first-year breeding males take longer than second-year breeding males to initiate this behavior. Offspring are dependent on their parents for two weeks post fledging.

Parental Investment: altricial ; male parental care ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

In the Northwest Territories, most nests are initiated during the second or third week in June, after the breeding habitat is at least 60 percent snow-free (Norment 1992). Only females build nests, incubate and brood young; both sexes feed young (Norment 1992, 1993). The incubation period is 12-13.5 days (mean = 12.8) and the nestling period is 8.5-10 days (mean = 9.2). Incubation extends through the first week of July, with hatching occurring in late June and early July, and fledging in early to mid-July (Norment 1992). Average clutch size for 155 clutches summarized by Norment (1992) is 4.07 eggs (range = three to five). Hatching among nests is relatively synchronous. In the Northwest Territories, the hatching rate was 76 percent, fledging rate was 62.5 percent, and overall nest success was 47.5 percent. The number of young fledged per pair was 2.07. Nest failure was due principally to predation (30 percent; Norment 1992). Successful nests are concealed in denser vegetation with thicker cover than depredated nests (Norment 1993). In Manitoba, hatching success of eggs was 89 percent (Jehl 1971) and the average nestling period was 8.9 days (Norment and Shackleton 1993). Lost clutches may be replaced (Norment 1992).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank.   Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen.  Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

History

• 2008
  Least Concern
• 2004
  Least Concern

Harris's sparrows are of least concern as their numbers have remained steady. This can likely be attributed to the extreme isolation of their northern breeding grounds where the threat of human disturbance is low. Overwintering habitats are suffering from human development, however the birds have recently become frequent feeder visitors and find adequate food resources to support the population.

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5B - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5N - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Comments: PREDATION: Preyed upon by shrikes (LANIUS spp.) in breeding and non-breeding habitat (Baumgartner 1968, Nice 1929, Norment 1992, 1994, Swenk and Stevens 1929). On the breeding grounds, gray jays (PERISOREUS CANADENSIS) also prey upon adults; merlins (FALCO COLUMBARIS), parasitic jaegers (STERCORARIUS PARASITICUS) and short-tailed weasels (MUSTELA ERMINEA) are suspected predators. Known nest predators include arctic ground squirrels (SPERMOPHILUS PARRYII) and short-tailed weasels; suspected nest predators include red squirrels (TAMIASCIURUS HUDSONICUS) and gray jays (Norment 1992). INCLEMENT WEATHER: Late snow storms can kill young in the nest (Jehl and Hussell 1966). FIRE: Fires can convert preferred lichen-spruce breeding habitat to lichen-tundra vegetation (Arsenault and Payette 1992). PARASITES: Known ectoparasites include nasal mites (PTILONYSCUS MOROFSKYI and P. SAIRAE), lice (RICINUS HASTATUS, R. FRINGILLAE, PHILOPTERUS SUBFLAVESCENS, and BRUELIA), ticks (HAEMAPHYSALIS) and fleas (CERATPHYLUS GAREI). The only known internal parasite is the blood protozoan, HAEMOPROTEUS (Norment and Shackleton 1993).

Restoration Potential: Apparently not extirpated from any portion of its range and extirpation is not likely due to the remoteness of the breeding habitat and preference for edge habitat on the winter range (Norment and Shackleton 1993).

Management Requirements: Management is unnecessary at this time. Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (Norment and Shackleton 1993).

Management Research Needs: The relative impact of factors that control population (e.g., predation on eggs, nestlings, adults; effects of severe weather during nesting; overwinter survival) need study. Also need data on wintering ecology, especially habitat selection and factors affecting local populations (Norment, pers. comm.).

Biological Research Needs: Additional basic natural history data is needed, such as determination of migration corridors and physiological determinants of migration, quantitative studies of foraging behavior and habitat selection during the non-breeding season, competitive interactions with other species, determination of age at first reproduction, nest site selection, and dispersal of young from natal site (Norment and Shackleton 1993).

There are no known adverse effects of Harris's sparrows on humans.

No positive economic importance is known for Harris's sparrows.

Stewardship Overview: Not immediately threatened on the breeding grounds due to their remoteness; however, factors operating on the wintering grounds may be responsible for the population declines indicated by Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data. Wintering ecology is poorly known. Quantitative winter population monitoring techniques need to be developed and implemented to supplement CBC.