A Harris' sparrow's black bib, face and crown contrast sharply with its gray cheeks, white belly and pink beak. In winter, the black is mixed with gray and tan, which gives it a patchy appearance. In early spring, adult birds molt into a breeding plumage which is much more handsome. The Le Conte's sparrow is one of our rarest, but most colorful winter sparrows. This secretive bird can be found in winter in brushy, moist fields and meadows, mostly in the southern portion of the state.
Juveniles look like adults but have faint streaking on the breast.
The savannah sparrow is a bird of open habitat with nearby dense cover. It feeds in grass or crop stubble and quickly retreats to brush when threatened. This sparrow is a common migrant but is found locally in central and southern Missouri in winter. Lincoln's sparrows are small, shy sparrows that will occasionally over-winter in west central Missouri and the Mississippi River basin. In late fall and early spring, these sparrows are more widespread and can be seen along prairie edges and at bird feeders.