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ShrublandCup nestTiny · 14 g
ID tip
The black-throated sparrow is about 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in) long, weighs 11 to 15 g (0.39 to 0.53 oz), and has a wingspan of about 19.5 cm (7.7 in). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies A. b. bilineata have a black forehead, a gray crown and nape, a white supercilium and malar stripe both with thin black borders, black lores, and dark slate ear coverts. Their back and scapulars are brownish gray and their uppertail coverts mouse gray. Their tail is mostly brownish black. Voice: The black-throated sparrow's song usually has two parts, an "(1) introduction with note(s) followed by buzz and (2) repetitive section of trills (and sometimes buzzes)". One rendering is "chee-whee, whit, wher'r'r'r, cha, cha, cha, or chee cha cher'r'r'r'r chee". It apparently has few calls.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Black-throated Sparrow
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Black-throated Sparrow
The map shades 3 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada.
About the Black-throated Sparrow
The black-throated sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is found in Mexico and the United States.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarumThese small sparrows measure 10–14 cm (3.9–5.5 in) in length, span about 17.5 cm (6.9 in) across the wings and weigh from 13.8 to 28.4 g (0.49 to 1.00 oz), with an average of 17 g (0.60 oz).
Canyon TowheeMelozone fuscaIt is 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in) long, and has a noticeably long tail, at 8.2 to 11 cm (3.2 to 4.3 in).
Abert's TowheeMelozone abertiAbert's towhee is a bird of the family Passerellidae, native to a small range in southwestern North America, generally the lower Colorado River and Gila River watersheds, nearly endemic to Arizona, but also present in small parts of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Sonora in Mexico.
Side by side: Black-throated Sparrow vs Grasshopper Sparrow · Black-throated Sparrow vs Canyon Towhee
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