An eye-catching sparrow with a blackened bib and face markings arrives in Oklahoma each fall, joining other migrants for an exciting wave of winter birding. Ranging from 6 to 8 inches in length, the Harris’s sparrow is large compared to most other sparrows but shares their tendency to be found on or near the ground, scratching for seeds and larvae. In Oklahoma, the Harris’s sparrow is considered a species of greatest conservation need.

These striking birds may be found in Oklahoma October through May and have been documented across much of the state. Sightings may be shared on free nature platforms like eBird or iNaturalist.