Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) [XC295151]
by Martin St-Michel from Wood Buffalo (near Fort McMurray), Division No. 16, Alberta, Canada (call)
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) [XC698153]
by William Whitehead from Maple Ridge, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (call)
Subspecies
Genus generally considered to be closely related to Passerella and Zonotrichia. Unpublished molecular studies suggest close relationship with Xenospiza and some of the grassland sparrows (Passerculus, some Ammodramus, Pooecetes and Oriturus). Subspecies nigrescens rather distinctive, and apparently differs from others in ecology, migratory behaviour and nesting biology. Further study is required. Differences between ericrypta and nominate subspecies slight.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
ericrypta Oberholser, 1938 - Breeds southern Canada from south-western Mackenzie east to central Quebec and Newfoundland and south to north-eastern British Columbia, central Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, western Ontario and south-eastern Quebec, and southern in USA to eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota. Non-breeding from extreme south-western Canada (coast of southern Vancouver I) southern in USA to central-western California and central Nevada, also from eastern Texas east to southern Georgia and north-eastern Florida, and in Mexico in Sonora (rare) and Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamaulipas south to Durango, Jalisco, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz.
georgiana (Latham, 1790) - Breeds from eastern South Dakota east to south-eastern Canada (Prince Edward I and Nova Scotia), south to eastern Nebraska, northern Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and West Virginia. Non-breeding south to southern Texas, Gulf Coast and southern Florida.
nigrescens Bond, J, GM & Stewart, 1951 - Breeds coastal eastern USA (from New Jersey south to south-eastern Maryland).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet