10/09/2026
This pretty little sparrow has been a superstar over the last week as it’s stopped in to rest and recharge in the Marsh. It’s a LeConte’s Sparrow, Ammospiza leconteii, and they’re on their way from breeding grounds in wetlands in the upper Great Plains to overwinter in the south central U.S. and we get to host them!
Folks flocked here from all over Ohio, plus we talked with visitors from PA and WV who all came to the Marsh to try to see the hard to find LeConte’s Sparrows! “The LeConte's Sparrow is famously elusive. It stays hidden in dense grass, often running along the ground rather than flying. They're so hard to find and track that, although the species was officially described in 1790, it took scientists nearly 100 years longer to find and describe the first nest” (All About Birds).
LeConte’s Sparrows are smaller than Song Sparrows; about the size of a Marsh Wren. They are “distinctly orange-buff all over, particularly on the head and upper breast. It has black streaks on the back and wings and a grayish-purple spot on the back of the neck. The belly is white. The bill is gray” (All About Birds). Ohio Naturalist Jim McCormac’s description is spot on: “The Le Conte's Sparrow is quite dashing, really. I think even a person with only marginal interest in avifauna would find one nice. From the creamy crown stripe to the intricate streaking of the back, they exhibit the best of the subtly beautiful sparrow adorments. Having to work hard to see one - at least around here - adds to the thrill of seeing one.”
To find one, folks birded along the Wake Robin boardwalk and had the chance to observe many other birds as well as they watched and waited for a LeConte’s to come into view. They’re notorious to find as this tiny sparrow “walks or hops on the ground, often among dense grasses. Does not flush readily, and prefers to escape from disturbances on foot. When they do fly, their flights are short, with quick, weak wingbeats before disappearing back into the vegetation” (All About Birds).
We’ve had great weather for birding in the marsh and it looks like we’ve got several more days of this gorgeous fall weather! Tomorrow morning’s the second Saturday of the month so that means we’ll be out in the wild western end of the Marsh for our Second Saturday Science open house from 8 am to noon. Access to this area is at the gate at Woodridge and Forest. It’s open house style, so come when you can! A reminder that access into the state nature preserve is for foot traffic only and pets are prohibited.
This marsh sure is marvelous! Hope you take advantage of this weather and the special access on Saturday morning and come visit our wild, western end of the marsh!
Read more natural history information on LeConte’s Sparrows and about our Second Saturday Science event at links in the comments.
Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, early October 2026
Photo credit: Kari Warner
