song sparrow

American  

noun

1. a small emberizine songbird, Melospiza melodia, common in North America.

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song sparrow British  

noun

1. a common North American finch, Melospiza melodia, having brown-and-white plumage and a melodious song

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Etymology

Origin of song sparrow

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10

Example Sentences

"The existence of 'locally adapted' populations implies that natural selection has shaped the genetic makeup of song sparrow populations across their range, enabling individuals to survive and reproduce in drastically different climatic conditions," said Carbeck.

From Science Daily

In New York, researchers found chickadees and song sparrows that ate insects contaminated with PCBs along the Hudson River sounded a bit different than ones in uncontaminated areas in the Adirondacks.

From Seattle Times

Adaptable and variable, song sparrows can be found in abundance in overgrown fields, wooded edges and backyards, where they are common visitors at bird feeders.

From Seattle Times

A heron cruised overhead, and a song sparrow belted it out like a diva.

From Seattle Times

How song sparrows use their song to warn off intruding song sparrows has been studied by researchers at the University of Washington.

From Seattle Times