seaside sparrow

[ see-sahyd spar-oh ]

noun

1. a species of sparrow, Ammospiza maritima, existing in two subspecies, one Cape Sable seaside sparrow having dark olive-drab plumage with a lighter breast and underbelly, and the other dusky seaside sparrow, or dusky sparrow having bold black and white markings on the breast and underbelly: the dusky seaside sparrow is almost extinct.