AnAge entry for Passerculus sandwichensis

Classification (HAGRID: 00727)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Aves (Taxon entry)
            Order: Passeriformes
                Family: Emberizidae
                    Genus: Passerculus
Species: Passerculus sandwichensis
Common name: Savannah sparrow
Synonyms: Ammodramus sandwichensis

Maximum longevity: 18 years (captivity)
Source: Julie Zickefoose, pers. comm.
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: A captive specimen, at least a year-old when acquired, lived 17 years in captivity, making it at least 18 years-old when it died. As observed in other birds, the most obvious manifestation of ageing was a thickening of the scutes on the legs and feet. Sunken eyes plus a slowing down of activity with age were also observed (Julie Zickefoose, pers. comm.). In the wild, these animals have been known to live up to 6.8 years [0427].

: No information is available on life history. Please contact us if you wish to suggest or contribute data.

[0820] John Dunning (2008), CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses
[0435] McKechnie and Wolf (2004), The allometry of avian basal metabolic rate: good predictions need good data (PubMed)
[0444] John Terres (1980), The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds
[0427] BBL - Longevity Records of North American Birds
[0445] The Birds of North America Online