Lincoln's Sparrow

About the Lincoln's Sparrow

A crisp, subtly beautiful sparrow that rewards a close look, the Lincoln's Sparrow wears a buffy wash across finely streaked underparts, a gray face, a warm brown crown, and a neat eye-ring that give it a gentle, almost delicate expression. It is easily passed off as a Song Sparrow until those fine streaks and buff tones register.

Shy and retiring, the Lincoln's Sparrow skulks low in brushy tangles, weedy edges, and damp thickets, slipping out of sight at the first hint of movement and scratching about on the ground for seeds and insects.

In Texas the Lincoln's Sparrow is a common winter visitor across the state, favoring the brushy borders of ponds, field margins, and moist, weedy cover.

A note from behind the lens: patience at a brushy edge is everything - a little scattered seed and a low, still setup will eventually coax one into the open. Soft light suits its subtle tones, and a clean perch lets that fine streaking and buffy chest show at their best.