Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is one of the most common grassland breeding sparrows in the United States; it nests over much of the North American continent and winters over the southern states and Mexico. The species is highly variable in plumage and bill size from different areas of the country and a number of subspecies are recognized. The top photo on this page is of a wintering bird taken at Anahuac N.W.R., Chambers Co., Texas in April, 1999, with a Canon EOS 1N and EF 600mm F4L lens on Fuji Sensia. Next is a breeding bird from Sheridan Co., Montana, in June, 2001, with a Canon EOS 3 and an EF 600mm F4L lens and 1.4X extender. The third shot shows another wintering bird in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in February, 2003. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS D60 and a 500mm F4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.

The Savannah Sparrow on the left was at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in November, 2005. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender. The next shot was taken at the same location with the same gear but a month later, in December, 2005.

Savannah Sparrows frequently perch along roadside fences. This one was near Lake Kissimmee, Osceola Co., Florida, in March, 2007. It was photographed with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.

The Savannah Sparrow on the left was at Red Rocks Lake N.W.R., Beaverhead Co., Montana, inJune, 2007. The image was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.

The next 6 images show Savannah Sparrows on the nesting grounds at Medicine Lake N.W.R., Sheridan Co., Montana, inJune, 2007. These shots were taken with the same equipment as described just above.

The Savannah Sparrows in the next 5 shots were wintering birds in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, that had not yet left for the breeding grounds. These 5 shots were taken in April, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.