Sparrows are one of the most widespread bird species across North America—but the Song Sparrows of the San Francisco Bay aren’t just any ordinary backyard bird. These birds are the only Song Sparrows equipped to survive in the harsh, inhospitable environment of the salt marsh. Each arm of the Bay is home to a different subspecies, making this a hotspot for genetic diversity. Learn what makes these little brown birds different from all the rest, and why it is so important to protect their native habitat.

Chloe Mikles is a first-year PhD student at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University. She has a B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University, where she worked with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology studying evolutionary biology in songbirds. She has studied birds in Kenya and Australia, but the birds of the San Francisco Bay are the most fascinating to her. Chloe is passionate about sharing her love for the outdoors and research with others. Check out her website and follow her on Twitter.