Nelson's Sparrow

About the Nelson's Sparrow

Nelson's Sparrow is one of those birds most people have simply never seen - not because it is drab, but because it lives its whole Texas winter inside dense coastal marsh grass and would rather run like a mouse than fly. Getting a clean look at one is a genuine birding accomplishment.<br><br>It rewards the effort. A bird in good light shows a rich pumpkin-orange wash across the face and breast framing a neat gray cheek, with crisp streaking below and a gray central crown stripe - a subtle, beautifully painted little sparrow.<br><br>Nelson's Sparrows breed in the prairie wetlands of the northern Great Plains and Canada, then slip south to spend the winter in Gulf Coast cordgrass. On the upper and central Texas coast they share the marsh with seaside sparrows and rails, staying low in the spartina and flushing only at the last moment before dropping back into cover.<br><br>The best chances come on the highest tides, when rising water pushes the birds up out of the thickest grass. Patience, rubber boots, and a little luck are standard equipment for this one - which is exactly why a good photo of a Nelson's feels earned.