Peucaea aestivalis
The Bachman's Sparrow, *Peucaea aestivalis*, is a notoriously secretive and highly sought-after songbird of the southeastern United States, often referred to as the 'ghost bird' due to its elusive nature. Measuring 12.5-15 cm (5-6 in) in length with a wingspan of approximately 20-23 cm (8-9 in) and weighing around 18-24 grams (0.6-0.8 oz), this medium-sized sparrow is characterized by its soft, buffy underparts and an unstreaked, olive-brown back. Its distinctive features include a dull olive...
Primarily inhabits open, fire-maintained longleaf pine savannas with a dense, grassy understory, as well as regenerating pine clearcuts. Typically found in low-elevation, well-drained sandy soils.
Primarily consumes insects (grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, spiders) during the breeding season, shifting to a diet rich in grass seeds and pine seeds during winter. Forages by gleaning from the ground.
Bachman's Sparrows are diurnal but notoriously secretive, spending most of their time foraging on the ground amidst dense vegetation. They typically roost low to the ground within grass clumps or dense shrubs. Foraging involves slow walking, gleaning insects and seeds from leaf litter, and occasi...
The Bachman's Sparrow is primarily a resident species of the southeastern United States, with its core range extending from southern Virginia and eastern North Carolina, west through the Gulf Coast states to eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas, and south throughout much of Florida. Historically, i...
Near Threatened
- Named after Rev. John Bachman, an American naturalist and friend of John James Audubon. - Often called the 'ghost bird' due to its extremely secretive nature and habit of running through dense undergrowth instead of flying. - Its distinctive song is a clear, slurred whistle that carries well, m...