Grasshopper Sparrow

The Grasshopper Sparrow is a casual visitor to campus with a single record of a fall migrant 18-19 Nov 2015. It formerly bred in grasslands within the CSUSB Preserve, but has not been recorded there since March 2010. It is a rare breeding bird in the coastal lowlands of southern California, and is listed as a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Game.The Grasshopper Sparrow has streaky brown upperparts, buffy face and underparts, and has a yellowish spot in front of the eye and at the bend of the wing. It is most easily identified, however, by listening for its song: a couple short notes followed by a long, thin buzz.