Texas Sparrow Species Guide (with photos)

Sparrows that Live in Texas & What They Look Like

Texas officially has 38 sparrow species documented in the state. There are 37 native sparrow species (which includes 4 towhee species), plus the non-native House Sparrow.

House Sparrows are usually the most common sparrow at bird feeders, often feeding in groups of 3 to 20+.

Common Texas Sparrows include:

House Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Spotted Towhee

Uncommon, rare, or range-restricted sparrows:

House Sparrow

Common in urban & suburban areas
Often seen at bird feeders
Always in groups

The House Sparrow is the most commonly observed sparrow because they’re so adapted to cities and suburban neighborhoods.

Also called the English Sparrow, these little brown birds are originally from Europe. As a non-native and invasive species in Texas, they’re typically bad news for local birds like cardinals, bluebirds, and woodpeckers.

As dietary generalists, they’re not picky about what they eat and are highly effective at finding food. They also love bird feeders, and will often swarm them to the point of pushing other birds away.

House Sparrows are aggressive for their size, and will fight off bigger birds at food sources like backyard feeders and bird baths. They will take over nesting cavities of other birds, which harm cavity nesters like wrens, bluebirds, woodpeckers, and Purple Martins.

Chipping Sparrow

Rufous head cap, black eye line, clean unmarked breast
Often in groups on the ground
Common during winter months

Chipping Sparrows breed throughout most of Texas, can be found in the Panhandle during spring and fall migration, and are winter residents in the southern half of Texas.

Chipping Sparrows are most often seen feeding on the ground, singing from tree branches, and taking cover in low bushes. Their habitat is forests, open woodlands, shrubby backyards, and nearby grass clearings.

Similar species include Field Sparrow.

Field Sparrow

White eye ring, clean unmarked breast
Year-round and migratory

Field Sparrows occur from Edward’s Plateau through north-eastern Texas year round. They are winter birds throughout most other regions of the state.

Field Sparrows are primarily grassland birds, and can be found on or near the ground in agricultural fields, road and forest edges, and open patches in woodlands. These sparrows tend to avoid backyards and suburbs.

Field Sparrows have a distinctive bouncing-ball song. It starts slow and speeds up as it goes, like the sound of a golf ball being dropped straight down on a hard surface.

Similar species include Chipping Sparrow.

White-crowned Sparrow

Bold black and white stripes across head
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

White-crowned Sparrows can be of the most commonly encountered winter sparrows in Texas.

White-crowned Sparrows love shrubby roadsides, backyards, agricultural fields, and brushy habitats.

They are often seen in groups and sing frequently. This is a semi-common species for backyard bird feeders, though they are most likely to feed from the ground.

Similar species include White-throated Sparrow.

White-throated Sparrow

White throat patch
Black and white head stripes with yellow near eyes
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

White-throated Sparrows are winter birds throughout most of the state, and can be found during spring and fall migration in the Texas Panhandle.

This species likes similar habitats as White-crowned Sparrows; weedy fields, hedgerows, forest edges, backyards, and city parks. These sparrows will frequently come to bird feeders.

White-throated Sparrows can be distinguished from the more-common White-crowned Sparrow by distinctive yellow patches on the head and a white throat.

Song Sparrow

Dark spot on the breast
Dark “sub-malar” feathers just under the beak
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Song Sparrows are a common winter bird in parks and more natural areas.

These birds can occur in many habitats, from grasslands and marshes to woodlands and suburbs. These birds tend to stay low to the ground, preferring to hide in fallen tree limbs and vegetation.

Similar species include Lincoln’s Sparrow.

Savannah Sparrow

Yellow just above the eyes, pale pink bill
Almost always seen on the ground
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

These birds are very common in open grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural fields. They are not typically visitors of bird feeders, but may occur in brushy backyards.

Savannah Sparrows can be dark with bold streaks along the body, or only lightly colored with subtle streaks.

The most helpful clue is always the faint yellow just above the eyes.

Vesper Sparrow

White eyering
White streak on side of the neck
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Vesper Sparrows are found in grasslands, agricultural fields, and roadsides. It’s not a bird you’d expect to see at a backyard feeder.

The two most helpful clues for identification are the eye ring, and the white neck streak. They’re not obvious in all individuals, but are easily visible probably 90% of the time.

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Thin neat eyeline
Yellow wash on face, breast, and flanks
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Lincoln’s Sparrows are most often found along wooded and shrubby edges, and along drainages and creeks. They may occasionally visit feeders, especially if shrubby vegetation is nearby.

The most helpful clue for identifying Lincoln’s Sparrow is the obvious eye line, and the light yellow color in the face, breast, and flanks.

Sometimes the yellow is bright and obvious, other times it may be subtle and difficult to see.

Lincoln’s Sparrows may be found in mixed groups of other sparrows. They’re most common during winter, but are migratory so fall and spring may bring them to less typical areas as they travel long distances.

Similar looking species is the Song Sparrow. Lincoln’s Sparrows lack the bold and dark “sub-malar” feathers (under the chin, outlining the throat).

Dark-eyed Junco

Typically darker upper body and white belly, will flash white tail feathers in flight
Mostly seen in groups
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Juncos are winter birds throughout most of the state, and are especially common in north and northeast Texas.

Most Texans know the classic slate-gray color, but at least five color variations of this species exists.

Areas near west Texas mountains like Big Bend and the Guadalupe Mountains during winter are great places to see the different color variations of Juncos.

Dark-eyed Juncos can be found in forests, fields, roadsides, parks, and backyards. They typically stay in groups and will frequent feeders, especially for seeds on the ground.

Lark Sparrow

Bold brown facial markings
Open areas with scattered bushes, especially with bare patches of ground or rock
Present year-round in most of Texas

Lark Sparrows are one of the most bodly patterned sparrows in Texas, especially on their face.

They can be common in small groups near farmland, especially in overgrown grassy and shrubby areas near fields of short grasses or bare dirt.

Spotted Towhee

Black on top, white spots on wings, reddish brown on sides, white belly.
Winter, year-round

Towhees like to stay down low in thick shrubs and bushes.

They like a mix of trees, shrubs, and open grassy areas. Along rural roadsides with shrubby fence lines can be an easy place to find Spotted Towhees.

Eastern Towhee

Similar to Spotted Towhee, but lacks white on wings
Only common in east Texas
Winter species (October – April)

Eastern Towhees are winter residents in Texas, most common in east Texas (east of Dallas, north of Houston).

They prefer wooded areas with a shrubby understory to provide plenty of cover and protection.

Canyon Towhee

Light streaks on the throat, rich red-brown color under the tail
Found in the western half of Texas

Canyon Towhees seem to prefer open rocky areas with scatter shrubs to use for cover.

Because they’re mostly found in rural western and west-central Texas, it’s not a bird most Texans are familiar with.

Green-tailed Towhee

Mostly a west Texas species
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Green-tailed Towhees like to stay low in thick shrubby vegetation with plenty of tall grasses mixed in.

In Texas they’re only common during winter in the far western region.

Good places to find them are along shrubby rocky drainages and creeks.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Smooth yellow wash in the face, white eye ring
Grassland-specific species

Grasshopper Sparrows are strictly grassland species. They get their name from their high, thin, buzzy, insect-like song.

They’re most common in central Texas, in the hill country and backland prairie regions.

To find these birds, the surrounding habitat needs to be at least 50% grass. The grasses typically need to be at least 12 inches high, with native grasses species being the most attractive (like Little Bluestem).

Swamp Sparrow

Dark eye line, white-ish throat, faint dark spot on breast
Found in vegetation in wetlands and near water
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Swamp Sparrows are an appropriately named bird. They love swamps, marshes, and vegetation along water.

At first glance they resemble Lincoln’s Sparrows, and sometimes share similar habitat. But Swamp Sparrows have clean, unmarked breasts and flanks.

If you see a sparrow in some cattails near water, Swamp Sparrow is a likely candidate.

Fox Sparrow

Dense thicket forest habitat
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Fox Sparrows are a unique looking Texas sparrow, with rich rufous-red colors all over the body (especially the breast and stomach).

They strongly prefer woodland habitat, especially if there’s water nearby, like along creeks and wooded drainages.

Lark Bunting

Streaky with large beak, black at base of the beak
Grasslands and road edges
Winter species in Texas (October – April)

Confusingly, this bird isn’t actually a bunting, but is in the sparrow family.

Lark Buntings are typically found west Texas and the panhandle during winter months. Occasionally they can be found in central Texas too.

They tend to flock together and stay low to the ground, preferring mixes of grassy and shrubby areas.

Cassin’s Sparrow

Very plain sparrow, best identified by song
Known for their sky larking behavior
Found in open grasslands and shrubby grasslands

Cassin’s Sparrows are tricky to identify because they lack distinctive markings. They’re a very plain, brown bird. Their song however, a distinctive high trill, is easy to identify if you know what to listen for.

Cassin’s Sparrows have an interesting breeding behavior. Males will skylark, which means they sing while flying 20 feet straight up in the air, then slowly fluttering straight back down to a perch.

They’re rarely found near urban centers of any size, and strongly prefer high quality, undisturbed habitat where native grasses grow tall.

Clay-colored Sparrow

Shrubland, thorn scrub, grassland, desert
Winter bird in western and southern Texas, migration throughout most of the state

Clay-colored Sparrows are a sign that migration is underway in Texas, as they’re typically seen in March and April (spring migration), then again in September and October (fall migration).

They look similar to Chipping Sparrows, with a dark eyeline and clean breast, but differ in the Clay-colored’s bronze cheek patch.

Harris’s Sparrow

Agricultural fields, shrubs, hedgerows, backyards
Winter throughout central and northern Texas
Largest sparrow in North America

Harris’s Sparrows are the largest sparrow in North America. The winter in Texas, but fly north for spring and summer.

They enjoy woodland edges with a shrubby midstory and somewhat open ground. They can be especially common in wooded areas of north-central Texas, but can be found as found south as the San Antonio area.

American Tree Sparrow

Open forest, hedgerows, marshes, weedy fields, backyards
Winter in northern Texas

American Tree Sparrows aren’t common in Texas, and birders usually have to travel to the northern panhandle during winter to find them, like around Amarillo.

The look similar to the common Chipping Sparrow, except the eyeline is brown instead of black, and American Tree Sparrows have a small dark dot on the breast.

LeConte’s Sparrow

Damp and coastal grasslands
Winter bird in central and east Texas

LeConte’s Sparrows are typically only found in high quality, healthy grasslands with expansive areas of tall grass. They especially prefer somewhat wet grasslands, like around the edges of marshes or lakes.

Many birder consider this species a great grassland prize, since they can be secretive and difficult to find or get a good look at.

The bright yellow in the face and bold black streaks really help identify this species in the field.

Henslow’s Sparrow

Damp grasslands, pine savannas
Winter in eastern Texas

Henslow’s Sparrow is an east Texas specialty, found nowhere else in the state.

It looks similar to the LeConte’s Sparrow, and can be found in similar habitat. The yellow on Henslow’s Sparrows is more muted, while the black body and facial streaking is softer with more rounded edges.

Bachman’s Sparrow

Grassy pine woodland habitat
Year-round in far-eastern Texas

Bachman’s Sparrow is an east Texas specialty, found nowhere else in the state.

It’s simple mix of brown tones and lack of any bold black streaking make it visually different than other east Texas sparrows.

Nelson’s Sparrow

Wetlands and marshes
Winter along coastlines north of Corpus Christi, migration throughout eastern Texas

This migratory sparrow winters on the Texas coast from Galveston down through Corpus Christi.

It differs from the similar looking LeConte’s Sparrow in that Nelson’s Sparrow lack the bold, dark streak in the face and flanks.

Nelson’s Sparrow also stick to coastal marshes, while LeConte’s Sparrows can be found within inland grasslands.

Seaside Sparrow

Coastal saltmarshes
Winter in along coastlines of southern Texas, year-round north of Corpus Christi

Seaside Sparrows are only found near the coast, and prefer coastal marshes with tall grasses and reeds.

They have a unique gray color to the body and head, with a dash of yellow in front of the eyes.

This sparrow is easiest to find during April and May when the males are perched up high in the reeds while singing.

Black-throated Sparrow

Bold white head stripes, obvious black throat
Found in dry rocky areas with tall grasses and shrubs
Central, south, and west Texas

Black-throated Sparrows are one of the most strikingly marked sparrow in Texas.

They prefer arid and semi-arid regions, and are usually associated with desert or near-desert habitat.

They can be common within areas in central Texas (the further west the better), central west Texas (Abilene, Midland), and the west Texas desert.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Dry, open grassland and shrubland
Semi-common in the Texas Hill Country, and west Texas

Rufous-crowned sparrows tend to like semi-rocky areas, especially on sloping hillsides.

This species can be common in areas of the Texas Hill Country, especially where rocky hillsides are covered in grass rather than trees.

Black-chinned Sparrow

Desert species
Likes shrubby, rocky hillsides
Mostly a winter bird in far west Texas

Black-chinned Sparrows can be found in the west Texas desert, especially in areas with rocky sloping hillsides.

Canyons and mountain sides in Big Bend and Guadalupe National Parks can be decent areas to find these birds.

Baird’s Sparrow

Desert grasslands
Winter in far-west Texas

Baird’s Sparrows can be very difficult to find in Texas.

They’re prefer open tall grasslands in the west Texas desert during winter months. They have a secretive nature and tend to stay hidden down low in the grass.

Brewer’s Sparrow

Desert scrubland
Migration throughout west Texas, winter in west Texas deserts

Brewer’s Sparrow are typically found in west Texas during winter months.

They can be quite common in areas with good habitat, especially in shrubby areas near water.

Sagebrush Sparrow

Gray head with white eyering
Winter in west Texas deserts

This sparrow is typically only found in west Texas deserts during winter months.

They prefer shrubby areas with vegetation to hide in.

Olive Sparrow

Dense thorn scrub
Year-round in southern Texas

Olive Sparrows can be found in the southern portion of Texas, south of San Antonio.

They’re most commonly found in the Rio Grande Valley. State parks like Bentsen Rio Grande and Estero Llano Grande can be good spots to see them.

Botteri’s Sparrow

Grassland species
Year-round in south Texas Rio Grande Valley

This plain looking sparrow can be found in the Rio Grande Valley in far south Texas.

Search for them in open areas of tall grass. Areas in and around Laguna Atascosa N.W.R. may be a good place to find them, especially in the spring when they’re singing and active.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Brush, thickets, occasional backyards
Rare in Texas, not found every year

Typically a west coast species, this is a rare bird in Texas. It tends to show up once every 2 or 3 years in the state, usually in far west Texas or in the panhandle during winter months.

Yellow-eyed Junco

Very rare in Texas
Only a handful of reports from far west Texas

Typically only found in Arizona, this rare Texas sparrow may show up once every few years in far west Texas, like in El Paso.

It looks similar to some Dark-eyed Juncos (the more western color morphs), but differs in their bright yellow eyes.