Grasshopper Sparrow – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Overview

Species Common Name Grasshopper Sparrow
Species Scientific Name Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Columbia Plateau

The Columbia Plateau ecoregion was shaped by cataclysmic floods and large deposits of wind-borne silt and sand earlier in its geological history. It is dominated by a rolling landscape of arid lowlands dissected by several important rivers, and extends from the eastern slopes of the Cascades Mountains, south and east from the Columbia River to the Blue Mountains.

Klamath Mountains

The Klamath Mountains ecoregion covers much of southwestern Oregon, including the Umpqua Mountains, Siskiyou Mountains, and interior valleys and foothills between these and the Cascade Range. The Rogue watershed has the largest population of any coastal watershed in Oregon (Jackson County, Josephine County, and a portion of Curry County). Several popular and scenic rivers run …

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.

Special needs

Grasshopper Sparrows use dry grassland habitat, generally with low to moderate grass height and low percent shrub cover. They have large habitat area requirements.

Limiting factors

Grasshopper Sparrows are uncommon and locally distributed in Oregon. Loss of grasslands due to conversion and shrub/tree encroachment is a key limiting factor. Nesting failure due to timing of land use practices (e.g., mowing, haying, spraying) also impacts this species.

Data gaps

Assess distribution and abundance. Investigate habitat relationships, including the effects of habitat patch size on abundance and productivity. Identify and describe planting mixes that may favor this species. Assess the impacts of grazing and agricultural management on productivity.

Conservation actions

Maintain or restore grassland habitat. Increase plant diversity to promote greater insect diversity. Maintain high percent native grass cover and <10% shrub cover in patches >20 acres. Delay mowing and other field management until after July 15 at known nesting areas. Control key invasive plants.

Key reference or plan

Status Assessment and Conservation Plan for Grasshopper Sparrow