Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni), a Special Concern species, is a small, chunky songbird with a spotted orange-yellow face and gray ear patches. The crown is also marked by a gray stripe between dark brown streaks. Its breast and flanks are marked by smudgy-gray streaks. Nelson's Sparrow is generally found at freshwater lake margins in herbaceous wetland habitats with dense vegetation including sedges and cattails. Such habitats include emergent marshes, wet meadows, fens, and peatlands. Nesting records in Wisconsin are restricted to extreme northern and northwestern portions of the state. Two-six greenish eggs with dark speckles are laid in open cup nests, composed of grass stems and blades, on or above the ground, and are incubated by the female for 11 days. Loss of wetland habitats through destructive practices like drainage and filling threaten nesting populations in the state. The recommended avoidance period for this species is May 25 - August 10.
