Baird's Sparrow

Status: The Baird's sparrow declined by 24 percent from 1966 to 1990, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.

Habitat/Range: Breeds primarily in ungrazed or lightly grazed mixed-grass prairie and wet meadows in south-central Canada, southern South Dakota, southeastern North Dakota and west-central Minnesota. Non-breeding range is in southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, north-central and southern Texas, and north-central Mexico.

Threats: Conversion of wetlands to agriculture and heavy grazing are the primary threats. About 80 percent of the short-grass prairie and 85 percent of the mixed-grass prairie that Baird's sparrow historically called home is now gone.

Restoration Potential: Due to extensive habitat loss, Baird's sparrow will probably never recover to its historic levels. Where suitable habitat remains, its outlook is good if areas are not plowed, overgrazed or drained and are properly managed with burning, mowing and grazing.

Places We Are Protecting:

• Matador Ranch, Montana
• Missouri Coteau, Canada 
• Bitter Creek, Montana/ Grasslands National Park, Canada

Learn More:
View a species management abstract for this bird.

Illustrations by David Allen Sibley from The National Audubon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. Copyright © 2000 by Chanticleer Press and David Allen Sibley. No illustrations may be copied, reproduced, or reused without the express written permission of the copyright holders.