"Common and widespread in open grassy or weedy habitats ,,, one of the most likely to be seen in open areas ... Similar to Song Sparrow, but shorter-tailed (and tail notched rather than rounded), smaller-billed, and more crisply streaked." (David Allen Sibley's The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America., p. 382)

"The Savannah sparrow exhibits streaked brown upperparts and pronounced dark streaking on the whitish sides and breast, sometimes with a central breast spot. The tail is short and notched; the legs are pink. Light eyebrow streaks are usually yellowish, particularly on the lores, the region between the bill and eyes. A pale crown stripe and dark whisker marks complete the markings on the head."

I first had this bird identified as a Lincoln's Sparrow ... but then I noticed the yellow on the lores, which is absent from the Lincoln's Sparrow, but characteristic of the Savannah Sparrow.

Compare this also to the Song Sparrow.

This is Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Savannah Sparrow

Photo taken with a Nikon D300 using a Nikon 300mm f/4.5 manual focus lens.

April 25, 2015.