Song Sparrows are one of the most widespread and familiar birds in Oregon, often found in a variety of brushy and semi-open habitats, especially near water. They are well-known for their complex and varied songs, which can be heard throughout much of the year.

Like many other sparrow species, adult male and female Song Sparrows are virtually identical in their plumage, making it very difficult to distinguish them by sight alone in the field.

Overall Appearance (Adult Male & Female):
Size and Shape: They are medium-sized sparrows, typically 5.5-7 inches (14-18 cm) long, with a relatively long, rounded tail that is often pumped up and down during flight or when perched. They have a conical bill.
Color Pattern: They are generally brown and heavily streaked, providing excellent camouflage in dense vegetation.
Upperparts: The back and wings are brown with prominent blackish-brown streaks.
Underparts: The breast and flanks are whitish to grayish, with heavy, dark brown or blackish streaking. These streaks converge to form a prominent, dark central breast spot (sometimes called a "stickpin" or "tiepin" spot), which is a key identification feature. The belly is usually cleaner white.
Head Pattern:
Crown: The crown is brown with dark streaking, and often has a subtle gray central stripe.
Face: They have a grayish face with a dark brown or reddish-brown eye-line that extends behind the eye. A distinctive feature is a prominent malar stripe (or "whisker" mark) – a thick, dark stripe extending down from the base of the bill onto the side of the throat.
Eyebrow: They usually have a grayish or whitish supercilium (eyebrow) above the eye, but it's not as bright or contrasting as in some other sparrows (like the White-crowned).
Bill: The bill is generally dark above and paler (often pinkish or yellowish) below, though color can vary.
Legs: Pinkish-brown.

Subspecies Variation in Oregon:
Song Sparrows are famous for their extreme geographic variation, with over two dozen recognized subspecies across North America. Oregon is home to several, and they can show some differences, though these differences apply to both sexes within that subspecies:

"Pacific Northwest" or "Sooty" Group (Melospiza melodia morphna and cleonensis): These are the most common subspecies found in western Oregon. They tend to be darker and richer reddish-brown overall, with heavier, broader streaking than Song Sparrows found in drier, more interior regions. This darker plumage is thought to be an adaptation to the humid, often wet, coastal and riparian environments. M. m. morphna is found in coastal BC south to NW Oregon, while M. m. cleonensis is in SW Oregon west of the Cascades south to NW California.

Key Points Regarding Male and Female Distinction in Oregon:
Plumage: As emphasized, adult male and female Song Sparrows are visually identical in their feathering. You cannot use plumage to determine their sex in the field.
Size (Subtle): Like many bird species, males typically average slightly larger and heavier than females, but this difference is subtle and not useful for field identification. It's usually only detectable through precise measurements by researchers (e.g., during banding).
Behavior (Breeding Season - common in Oregon): During the breeding season (spring and summer), behavioral cues are the primary way to infer sex:
Males: Are the main singers. They will perch conspicuously on a low branch, fence post, or shrub and deliver their characteristic, varied, and often repetitive songs to attract mates and defend their territory. They may also engage in courtship chases.
Females: The female alone builds the cup-shaped nest, usually on the ground hidden in dense vegetation or in low shrubs. She also does all the incubation of the eggs (typically 3-5). Both parents share duties in feeding the nestlings. Once the first brood fledges, the male will often take over feeding them while the female begins building a new nest for a second (or even third) clutch.