the clay-colored sparrow (spizella pallida) is a small sparrow of north america .
adults have light brown upperparts and pale underparts , with darker streaks on the back .
they have a pale crown stripe on a dark brown crown , a white line over the eyes , a dark line through the eyes , a light brown cheek patch and brown wings with wing bars .
the short bill is pale with a dark tip and the back of the neck is grey; they have a long tail .
non-breeding adults and immature resemble chipping sparrows and brewer's sparrows; they often form flocks with these birds outside of the nesting season .
their breeding habitat is shrubby open areas and jack pine woods across central canada and central northern united states east to the great lakes , and is expanding further eastward .
the nest is an open cup on the ground or low in a shrub .
these birds migrate in flocks to southern texas and mexico .
they forage on the ground , mainly eating seeds and insects .
outside of the nesting season , they often feed in small flocks .
while nesting , these birds may feed far from the nest; feeding areas are not defended .
the male sings from an open perch to indicate his ownership of the nesting territory .
the song is a "bzzzz bzzzz za za" .
this bird's nests are often parasitized by the brown-headed cowbird; the nest may be abandoned when this happens .
