Named for Savannah, Georgia, where they were first described more than two hundred years ago, the Savannah Sparrow is one of the many Sparrow species that visits Creamer’s Field. During the breeding season, you are most likely to spot Savannah Sparrows in shrubby, marshy, and grassy environments.

There are several different regional varieties of Savannah Sparrows, which can make these birds difficult to identify. At Creamer’s Field, you can spot the classic Savannah variety. The classic variety is several different shades of brown on top. Their undersides are white with brown streaks. Their crown feathers are easily ruffled, giving them a “spiky” head shape. Most importantly, look for a yellow eyebrow running from their beak to the back of their head.

Though Savannah Sparrows usually reside in the refuge’s open fields, we will periodically catch them our nets along the forest edge at Creamer’s Field Migration Station. In the spring, we often recapture several of the same males throughout the season as they defend their territories. We have captured over 2,500 Savannah Sparrows at CFMS since 1992.