Gets name from its song that has insect-like quality. Small sparrow that only occurs in south Florida. Sparrows only live for about 3 years. Lives in habitat known as the dry prairie, characterized as a treeless, topographically flat grassland. Dry prairies require frequent fire to suppress invasion of shrubs and trees.
Sparrows build nests in small excavated depressions on the ground.
Nests are made of fine grasses. Sparrows do not migrate, stay in same area for entire life. Listed as an endangered species in July 1986 due to habitat loss from conversion of natural habitat to improved pasture. Since the early 1980s, Ordway-Whittell Kissimmee Prairie Sanctuary staff and adjacent landowners have been negotiating to resolve hydrological problems related to water flows on their lands. In 1994, the State of Florida's South Florida Water Management District enters into negotiations regarding resolution of hydrological problems.