Le Conte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii
Flight call description A high, descending "ssews" with a sibilant quality.
Fig.1. Oklahoma October 25, 1995 (WRE).
Perched bird.
Similar species Typically more descending and slightly longer than Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow but possibly much overlap. Distinctly longer than Savannah Sparrow. See Nelson's Sharp-tailed and Field Sparrows and descending seeps.
Behavior Nocturnal migrant. Gives flight call regularly while perched, particularly around dawn and dusk, and during nocturnal migration. Also intersperses flight call with flight song.
Spectrographic description Measured calls (N=3) were 192-222.8 (210.2) mS in duration and in the 6.0-10.0 (6.6-9.3) kHz frequency range. The frequency track was double-banded, descending, and slightly upward-arched. There was a consistent 1 kHz separation between bands.
Discussion See hypothetical Le Conte's or Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow nocturnal flight call page.