Black-chinned Sparrow
Spizella atrogularis
The Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) is a uncommon new world sparrow found in 2 countries, weighing about 11 g. The black-chinned sparrow is a small bird in the genus Spizella, in the New World sparrow family Passerellidae.
About the Black-chinned Sparrow
The black-chinned sparrow is a small bird in the genus Spizella, in the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. It is found in the southwestern United States and throughout much of Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec; most populations in the US migrate south after breeding while those in Mexico are resident. It is a slim, long-tailed bird, primarily gray with a reddish-brown back streaked with black, brown wings and tail, a pink beak, and brownish legs and feet. In the breeding season, the male shows black on his throat, chin, and the front of his face. Females, youngsters and nonbreeding males show little or no black in these areas. An unobtrusive bird, it spends much of its time…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-chinned sparrow is a small passerine, measuring 5 to 5+3⁄4 in. (13–15 cm) in length, with a wingspan of roughly 7+3⁄4 in. (19–20 cm). It weighs 0.3–0.5 oz (9.0–14.8 g), with a median weight of 0.4 oz (11.3 g). Overall, it is a slender, round-headed bird, with a high crown and a long, notched tail, which is proportionately longer than that of other Spizella sparrows. The sexes are similar, though the male averages slightly larger. The adult's head and body are gray, and its back is reddish-brown with black streaks. Voice: Its call is a high, soft tsip or stip. In flight it gives a soft ssip, a call said to resemble that of the chipping sparrow. The song is a series of clear, high-pitched whistles that accelerate into a rapid trill, which typically rises in pitch. Though similar to the song of the field sparrow, it is higher-pitched and more "mechanical".
What the Black-chinned Sparrow sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, December, with peak activity in May. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-chinned Sparrow?
- The black-chinned sparrow is a small passerine, measuring 5 to 5+3⁄4 in. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-chinned Sparrow?
- The Black-chinned Sparrow is a tiny sized bird weighing about 11 g.
- Where can you see a Black-chinned Sparrow?
- The Black-chinned Sparrow occurs in 2 countries, including the United States and Mexico.
- What does a Black-chinned Sparrow sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Black-chinned Sparrow on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Black-chinned Sparrow?
- The Black-chinned Sparrow is most easily confused with the Worthen's Sparrow, the Brewer's Sparrow and the Clay-colored Sparrow.
- Is the Black-chinned Sparrow endangered?
- The Black-chinned Sparrow is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-chinned Sparrow for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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