Photo credit: USFWS

Baird’s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) | ESA status: none

Baird’s sparrow

The Baird’s sparrow is a grassland bird impacted by habitat loss.

Baird’s sparrow habitat

Baird’s sparrows breed in the prairies of Montana, North and South Dakota, and Canada before migrating south to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico in the winter months. The grassland habitat these birds rely on is becoming more and more scarce.

What are the threats to the Baird’s sparrow?

Conversion to agriculture, heavy livestock grazing, and drainage of wetlands have taken a toll on grasslands, both in the U.S. and Canada: 80 percent of short-grass and 75 percent of mixed grass prairie has been lost over the long term. In addition, Baird’s sparrow nests are commonly parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds.

What WildEarth Guardians is doing to preserve the Baird’s sparrow

Preserving North American grasslands has long been a priority of WildEarth Guardians’ conservation work. We strive to ensure that the U.S. Department of Agriculture prioritizes protection of the Baird’s sparrow’s habitat from Montana to New Mexico.