Orange-billed Sparrow
Arremon aurantiirostris
The Orange-billed Sparrow (Arremon aurantiirostris) is a uncommon new world sparrow found in 10 countries, weighing about 35 g. The orange-billed sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows.
About the Orange-billed Sparrow
The orange-billed sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is found from Mexico to Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The orange-billed sparrow is 14.5 to 16.5 cm (5.7 to 6.5 in) long and weighs about 35 g (1.2 oz). The sexes have the same plumage and all subspecies have the eponymous bright orange bill. Adults of the nominate subspecies A. a. aurantiirostris have a black crown with a gray stripe along its middle and a wide white supercilium on an otherwise black face. Their upperparts are olive-green and their wings and tail a darker olive-green with yellow at the bend of the wing. Their chin has a small black area and their throat is white with a wide black band below it across the upper upper breast. Voice: The orange-billed sparrow's song varies geographically though in general is "high-pitched, either a series of alternating lilting notes or thin whistles". In northern Central America it is an "extremely high-pitched series of sharp whistles" that lasts about two seconds; its call there is a "smacking tsiit!".
What the Orange-billed Sparrow sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Orange-billed Sparrow can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Orange-billed Sparrow?
- The orange-billed sparrow is 14.5 to 16.5 cm (5.7 to 6.5 in) long and weighs about 35 g (1.2 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Orange-billed Sparrow?
- The Orange-billed Sparrow is a small sized bird weighing about 35 g.
- Where can you see an Orange-billed Sparrow?
- The Orange-billed Sparrow occurs in 10 countries, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and Belize.
- What does an Orange-billed Sparrow sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Orange-billed Sparrow on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Orange-billed Sparrow?
- The Orange-billed Sparrow is most easily confused with the Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, the Grey-browed Brushfinch and the Pectoral Sparrow.
- Is the Orange-billed Sparrow endangered?
- The Orange-billed Sparrow is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Orange-billed 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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