Bachman's Sparrows (Aimophila aestivalis) occupy fire-dependent, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystems of the southeastern United States. Their populations have declined, due, in part, to fire suppression and degradation of longleaf pine forests. Populations decline when longleaf stands go more than 3 years without fire. The influence of fire on breeding productivity, however, is poorly understood because territories are large and it is difficult to find the well-hidden nests of this ground-nesting sparrow. In an earlier study, densities of Bachman's Sparrows were similar across pine stands burned 1 to 3 years previously, but declined significantly by the 4th year since burning. To assess whether the decline in density might be associated with a decline in breeding success, in 2001 we used a reproductive index to estimate breeding productivity of 70 territorial males, and from 1999 to 2001 we monitored 28 nests. We examined the influence of (1) season (growing versus dormant) when last burned and (2) years since burning on breeding productivity of Bachman's Sparrows in longleaf pine stands in the Conecuh National Forest, Alabama. Reproductive indices were greater (Z = 1.99, P = 0.047) during the first 3 years after burning (mean = 3.8, SE = 0.4, n = 10) than they were 4 years after burning (mean = 2.0, SE = 0.5, n = 3), similar to the pattern of change in Bachman's Sparrow density. We found no effect of burn season on the breeding productivity index (Z = 0.075, P = 0.94). The parallel patterns of declining density and lower breeding success suggest that Bachman's Sparrow density may be positively correlated with habitat quality. We conclude that burning longleaf pine forests on a 2–3 year rotation will best maintain populations of Bachman's Sparrows.