How long do song sparrows live?
The oldest Song Sparrow on record lived to 11.3 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild song sparrows live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 11.3 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 2–3 per season
- Size
- 4.7–6.7 in, 0.4–1.9 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 10 of 20
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Song Sparrow can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Song sparrows usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 3–5 eggs and raises 2–3 per season, with eggs taking 12–14 days to hatch.
How song sparrows compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other new world sparrows on this site.
- Savannah Sparrow18 years
- White-throated Sparrow14.9 years
- White-crowned Sparrow13.3 years
- California Towhee12.8 years
- Canyon Towhee12.8 years
- Eastern Towhee12.3 years
More about song sparrows
Frequently asked
How long do song sparrows live?
The longest-lived Song Sparrow on record reached 11.3 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild song sparrows live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Song Sparrow when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Song Sparrow ever recorded?
11.3 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Song Sparrow raise in a year?
Pairs lay 3–5 eggs and raise 2–3 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info