Watercolor portrait of Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii)

Cassin's Sparrow

Peucaea cassinii
It breeds across parts of the southern G… Look for it in arid grasslands, desert s… Uncommon Breeding song

Learn to identify the Cassin's Sparrow by ear. Master the "ti-ti-tseee... sureee-suree-suree" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“ti-ti-tseee... sureee-suree-suree”

What the Cassin's Sparrow sounds like

Cassin's Sparrow is a pale, sandy sparrow of wide-open grasslands, easy to miss until a male lifts into the air and spills out a bright, tinkling song. On the ground it looks subtle and smooth, with soft gray-brown tones and a long, rounded tail that melts into dry prairie.

“ti-ti-tseee... sureee-suree-suree”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A few clear whistles tumble into a loose, silvery trill. Males often deliver it from a perch or while fluttering high above the prairie. Often written as “ti-ti-tseee... sureee-suree-suree”.
Don't confuse with:The Botteri's Sparrow — botteri's usually looks bulkier, with a plainer face and less crisp pattern.

Where you'll hear it

Look for it in arid grasslands, desert scrub, and shrubby prairie with scattered mesquite, yucca, or low bushes. It likes open country with bunchgrasses and bare patches, not thick woods.

Spring and summer are the best times to find it, when males sing from shrubs or rise into fluttering song flights. Outside the breeding season it often goes quiet, stays low, and can seem to disappear into the grass.

Similar species

Botteri's Sparrow

Botteri's usually looks bulkier, with a plainer face and less crisp pattern.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow is smaller and shorter-tailed, with a flatter-headed look.

Baird's Sparrow

Baird's usually shows more buff in the face and finer streaking across the upper chest.

Cassin's Sparrow song FAQ

What does a Cassin's Sparrow sound like?
A few clear whistles tumble into a loose, silvery trill. Males often deliver it from a perch or while fluttering high above the prairie. Listen for the "ti-ti-tseee... sureee-suree-suree" phrase.
How do I tell a Cassin's Sparrow from a Botteri's Sparrow by sound?
Botteri's Sparrow: Botteri's usually looks bulkier, with a plainer face and less crisp pattern.; Cassin's often appears paler and smoother, with a longer, more rounded tail.; Botteri's song is a short, burry jumble, not the clear-note-then-trill pattern of Cassin's..
When is the best time to hear a Cassin's Sparrow?
Spring and summer are the best times to find it, when males sing from shrubs or rise into fluttering song flights. Outside the breeding season it often goes quiet, stays low, and can seem to disappear into the grass.