We examined the influence of woody vegetation on reclaimed surface mines on relative abundance of Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), Henslow's Sparrows (A. henslowii), Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis), Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and Dickcissels (Spiza americana) as well as nest-site selection and nesting success of Grasshopper and Henslow's sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks. Grasshopper and Henslow's sparrows were the most abundant grassland species on reclaimed mines. Numbers of Grasshopper, Henslow's, and Savannah sparrows, and Bobolinks were negatively associated with percent cover of woody vegetation within 100 m of survey locations. Only Grasshopper Sparrows responded to woody vegetation at nest-patch scales, as random locations had >2.5 times as much woody cover as nest locations. Daily nest survival (DNS) was negatively associated with amount of woody vegetation within 100 m of Grasshopper (DNS 0.76 ± 0.001 SE) and Henslow's sparrow nests (DNS 0.94 ± 0.020 SE), but only marginally negatively related to daily nest survival of Eastern Meadowlark nests (DNS 0.87 ± 0.006 SE). Avoidance of woody vegetation by grassland birds and the comparatively lower daily nest survival of Grasshopper and Henslow's sparrow nests near woody vegetation suggests managers of reclaimed surface mines who manage to conserve grassland birds should direct efforts towards reducing woody encroachment.