Abstract
ABSTRACT We captured 1,055 Nelson’s (Ammodramus nelsoni) and Saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) sparrows during the winter season (2006–2014) within the outer Coastal Plain of Virginia to determine the composition of subspecies. Birds were captured using mist nets in 24 tidal salt marshes and identified to subspecies using a plumage-based, syntopic key. Contrary to previous assessments, both species of sharp-tailed sparrows were common. All five subspecies were present and appeared to form mixed flocks within patches. The north-Atlantic Saltmarsh Sparrow (A. c. caudacutus) was the most common form, accounting for 45% of all birds identified to subspecies. The three Nelson’s Sparrow forms including the “Acadian” Nelson’s Sparrow (A. n. subvirgatus), “James Bay” Nelson’s Sparrow (A. n. alter) and the “Nelson’s” Sparrow (A. n. nelsoni) were equally common and collectively accounted for 47% of the subspecies identified. The highly restricted, mid-Atlantic Saltmarsh Sparrow (A. c. diversus) was the least common...
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