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PASSERELLIDAE

The Passerellidae family includes New World brush-finches, juncos, New World sparrows, and towhees. These species were formerly included in the Emberizidae faimiy which now only contains the Old World buntings, They are small seed-eaters with a finch-like bill. In addition to seeds they also eat insects, especially when feeding their young. They build cup-shaped nests.


New World Sparrows

Order Passeriformes   Family Passerellidae

The sparrows on this page belong to the Emberizidae family. These sparrows are found in the New World. There are also birds called sparrows in the  Passeridae family.


Genus Aimophila

Sparrow,_Oaxaca   Aimophila notosticta  Found: Mexico
The Oaxaca Sparrow is endemic to the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where it lives in dry forests and thornscrub.
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony  2) Jerry Oldenettel   3) Nick Athanas


Sparrow,_Rufous-crowned  Aimophila ruficeps  Found: North America
Rufous-crowned Sparrow has a brown back with darker streaks and gray underparts. The crown is rufous, and the face and supercilium are gray with a brown or rufous streak extending from each eye and a thick black malar streak.
Similar to: Rufous-winged Sparrow. Rufous-crowned Sparrow has gray bill; Rufous-winged Sparrow has yellow bill. Rufous-crowned has one stripe on lower face; Rufous-winged has 2 stripes.
Image by: 1) Francesco Veronesi - Texas  2) JN Stuart - Nevada  3) Bill Bouton - California  4) Jamie_Chavez  5) Nick Athanas - Mexico 6) Texas_lorarend - Texas



Sparrow,_Rusty  Aimophila rufescens  Found: Mexico, Central America
The Rusty Sparrow has chestnut upperparts; grayish-brown breast; whitish belly; brown flanks; brown crown with narrow light median line; whitish supercilium; black eye-line; white throated edged with black;
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Jerry Oldenettel - Belize   4) Nigel_Voaden - Mexico



Genus Ammodramus
These birds are relatively small, with large bills, flat heads and short tails. They are usually found in grasslands or marshes and are often fairly inconspicuous.

Sparrow,_Baird's  Ammodramus bairdii  Found: North America
Baird's Sparrow has brown upperparts; whitish underparts; spreaking on back, breast; flanks; yellowish face, nape, crown stripe; large bill; flat head.
Similar to: Grasshopper Sparrow. Viewed from the side these two species are quite similar, but the breast of a mature Baird's Sparrow has some stripes while a Grasshopper Sparrow's breast is plain.
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony  2)Tom_Benson - North Dakota  3) Rick Bohn  4) Nicholas_Pederson - New Mexico


Sparrow,_Grasshopper Ammodramus savannarum Found: North America
The Grasshopper Sparrow has upperparts streaked with brown, gray, black, white; dark brown crown with white narrow median stripe; light brown breast; white belly; brown face, tail; light eye-ring;
Similar to: Baird's Sparrow. Viewed from the side these two species are quite similar, but the breast of a mature Baird's Sparrow has some stripes while a Grasshopper Sparrow's breast is plain.
Image by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - Texas  2) Dominic Sherony   3) Ken Schneider  4) Charlie Westerinen - California


Sparrow,_Grassland  Ammodramus humeralis  Found: South America
Image by:   1) Lip Kee Yap - Argentina  2, 3) Dario Sanches - Brazil 4) Nick Athanas - Brazil  5) Edwin_Harvey - Argentina



Sparrow,_Henslow's  Ammodramus henslowii  Found: North America
The Henslow's Sparrow has streaked brown upperparts with rust-colored wings; streaked light brown breast; whitish belly, throat; dark crown with white median stripe; olive face, neck; short dark forked tail.
Similar to: Le Conte's Sparrow. Henslow's Sparrow has olive neck; Le Conte's has lilac-gray neck.
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony  2) Janet and Phil - Illinois  3, 4) Ken Schneider 


Sparrow,_Le_Conte's  Ammodramus leconteii  Found: North America
The Le Conte's Sparrow has a brownish and beige streaked back; dark crown with white median stripe; buffy yellow-orange face with gray cheeks; lilac-gray neck with chestnut streaks; orange yellow breast and flanks with dark brown streaks; gray bill; brownish-pink legs.
Similar to: Henslow's Sparrow. Henslow's Sparrow has olive neck; Le Conte's has lilac-gray neck.
Image by: 1) Ken_Schneider - California  2) Laura Erickson  3) Sonny Cohen - Illinois   4) Tom_Benson - California


Sparrow,_Nelson's  Ammodramus nelsoni  Found: North America (Atlantic coast)
Adults have brownish upperparts with gray on the crown and nape, a cream-coloured breast with light or indistinct streaking and a white throat and belly; they have an orange face with grey cheeks and a short pointed tail.
Similar to: Saltmarsh Sparrow. Nelson's Sparrow has blurry stripes on breast; Saltmarsh Sparrow has distinct stripes on breast.
Similar to: Savannah Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow has a white crown stripe; Nelson's Sparrow does not.
Similar to: Seaside Sparrow. Seaside Sparrow has yellow in front of eye; Nelson's Sparrow does not.
Image by: 1) Bob Devlin - New Jersey   2, 3) Wildreturn - Missouri  4, 5) Jerry Oldenettel - Texas 



Sparrow,_Saltmarsh Ammodramus caudacutus  Found: North America (Atlantic coast)
Adults have brownish upperparts with gray on the crown and nape, a cream-coloured breast with dark streaks and a white throat and belly; they have an orange face with grey cheeks and a short pointed tail.
Similar to: Nelson's Sparrow. Nelson's Sparrow has blurry stripes on breast; Saltmarsh Sparrow has distinct stripes on breast.
Similar to: Savannah Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow has a white crown stripe; Saltmarsh Sparrow does not.
Similar to: Seaside Sparrow. Seaside Sparrow has yellow in front of eye; Saltmarsh Sparrow does not.
Image by: 1) Mark Tillett - Maryland  2) Wolfgang Wander - New York  3) Bob Devlin - New York   4) Joseph Pescatore


Sparrow,_Seaside Ammodramus maritimus Found: North America
Adults have brownish upperparts with gray on the crown and nape, and a grayish buff colored breast with dark streaks; they have a dark face with grey cheeks, a white throat, and a short pointed tail. Birds show a small yellow streak just above the eye.
Similar to: Nelson's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow. Seaside Sparrow has yellow in front of eye; Nelson's and Saltmarsh do not.
Similar to: Savannah Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow has a white crown stripe; Seaside Sparrow does not.
Image by: 1, 2) David LaPuma - Florida  3) Jeff and Amy   4) Joseph Pescatore - New Jersey   5) Jeff Whitlock - Texas  6) Dick Daniels - North Carolina  7) P. W. Sykes, USFWS
1, 2) Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus m. mirabilis) 7) Dusky Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus m. nigrescens. Now extinct.



Sparrow,_Yellow-browed Ammodramus aurifrons  Found: South America
The Yellow-browed Sparrow has a wide yellow supercilium. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Image by: 1) Charlie Westerinen - Iquitos, Peru    2) Tom Friedel (BirdPhotos.com) - Venezuela  3, 4) Barloventomagico - Venezuela 5) Nick Athanas - Ecuador 




Genus Amphispiza
These species frequently run on the ground with their tails cocked and sing from low branches.

Sparrow,_Black-throated Amphispiza bilineata Found: southwestern USA and Mexico
The Black-throated Sparrow has gray upperparts; distinctive black and white head pattern; bold black throat; pale underparts.
Similar to: Five-striped Sparrow, Sage Sparrow. Black-throated Sparrow distinguished by its black throat.
Image by:  1) Alan D. Wilson - Borrego Springs, California   2) Elaine R Wilson - Borrego Springs, California   3, 4) Dick Daniels - Arizona  5) Charlie Westerinen - "Hole in the Wall ", Utah  6) Kevin Cole



Sparrow,_Five-striped   Amphispiza quinquestriata   Found: Southwest United States, Mexico
The Five-striped Sparrow has a narrow white moustachial stripe with a wider black strip below. The throat has a white central stripe that may be hidden by the surrounding black stripes. It has a narrow white supercilium; black central spot on gray breast.
Similar to: Black-throated Sparrow. Black-throated Sparrow distinguished by its black throat.
Similar to: Sage Sparrow. Sage Sparrow has broad white throat; Five-striped Sparrow has little or no white on throat.
Image by: 1) Marcel Holyoak - Arizona  2) Dominic Sherony - Mexico  3) Don_Faulkner - Arizona



Genus Arremon
Some of these species are termed sparrows and some are termed brush-finches. These sparrow-like birds are found mostly in South America and some in Central America. They have olive upperparts, white throat. Genus Atlapetes contains the true brush-finches.

Finch, Black-headed Brush-  Arremon atricapillus  Found: Columbia, Panama
Image by: 1) Robert Lewis


Finch, Chestnut-capped Brush-  Arremon brunneinucha  Found: Mexico to southeastern Peru
The Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch has olive upperparts; chestnut crown, nape; black mask, head sides, breast-band (may be lacking); white throat; white spots in center and each side of forehead; gray flanks; white center-breast, belly.
Similar to: Green-striped Brush-Finch. Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch has distinctive chestnut crown. Green-striped Brush-Finch has green stripe above the black mask. There is no geographic overlap with these species.
Image by: 1) Charles Sharp - Costa Rica  2) Amy McAndrews - Mexico  3) Nick Athanas - Mexico  4) Cephas - Costa Rica


Finch, Costa Rican Brush-  Arremon costaricensis   Found: Panama, Costa Rica
The Costa-Rican Brush-Finch has olive upperparts; black crown, nape; large black eye-patch; gray supercilium extends to neck and flanks ; gray tale; white underparts with gray flanks.
Image by: 1) Rual Vega


Finch,_Gray-browed_Brush-  Arremon assimilis  Found: Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Similar to: Perija Brush-Finch.
Image by: 1) Andres Cuervo - Columbia  2. 3) Nick Athanas - Ecuador, Columbia  4) Brendan_Ryan - Columbia


Finch,_Green-striped Brush-   Arremon virenticeps  Found: Mexico
The Green-striped Brush-Finch has olive upperparts; chestnut crown, nape; black mask, head side); white throat; gray breast, flanks; white belly.
Similar to: Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch. Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch has distinctive chestnut crown. Green-striped Brush-Finch has green stripe above the black mask. There is no geographic overlap with these species.
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony  2) birdinnet  3) Francesco_Veronesi


Finch, Olive  Arremon castaneiceps  Found: Columbia. Ecuador, Peru
The Olive Finch has mainly olive-green plumage; chestnut crown, nape; dark gray face, throat.
Image by: 1) Francesco_Veronesi - Columbia  2) Nick Athanas - Ecuador
1) Juvenile


Finch, Perija Brush-  Arremon perijanus  Found: Columbia, northwest Venezuela
Similar to: Gray-browed Brush-Finch.
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Andres Cuervo - Columbia


Finch, Sierra Nevada Brush-  Arremon basilicus Found: northern Columbia
The Sierra Nevada Brush-Finch has olive green upperparts; black head with whitish-gray superciliums and median crown stripe; white throat; black collar; gray underparts; black bill.
Image by: 1) Juan Arango  2) Nick Athanas


Finch, Sooty-faced  Arremon crassirostris  Found: Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama
Image by: 1) Raul Vega  2) Nick Athanas - Costa Rica


Finch,_White-browed_Brush- also  Stripe-headed Brush-Finch   Arremon torquatus   Found: Argentina, Bolivia, Peru
The White-browed Brush-Finch has olive-green upperparts; black head; white superciium extending along nape; white throat; black breast band in some subspecies.
Image by: 1) Orbigny  2) Nick Athanas - Argentina  3) Francesco_Veronesi


Sparrow,_Black-capped  Arremon abeillei  Found: Ecuador, Peru
The Black-capped Sparrow has a black cap, forehead, mask; wide white superciliumk throat; narrow black breast band; gray flanks; whitish belly.
Image by: 1) Francesco Veronesi - Ecuador 2) Nick Athanas - Ecuador


Sparrow,_Golden-winged  Arremon schlegeli  Found: Columbia, Venezuela
The Golden-winged Sparrow has a black head; black half collar; grayish upperparts with greenish patch on back merging with greenish-golden wings; whitish underparts with gray flanks; golden bill. A subspecies lacks the greenish patch on back.
Image by: 1) Arley_Vargas  2, 3) Nick Athanas - Columbia  4) Bryant_Olsen


Sparrow,_Half-collared  Arremon semitorquatus Found: Brazil
The Half-collared Sparrow has black head with white supercilium and narrow white median crown stripe; white underparts with black half-collar; black upper-mandible; yellow lower-mandible.
Similar to: Sao Francisco Sparrow. Half-collared Sparrow has wider "half-collar" than Sao Francisco Sparrow. Sao Francisco Sparrow has all yellow bill; Half-collared Sparrow has black upper-mandible and yellow lower-mandible
Image by: 1) Dario Sanches - Brazil  2) Claudio Timm - Brazil  3) Nick Athanas  4) Carlos_Henrique


Sparrow,_Orange-billed  Arremon aurantiirostris  Found: Central America, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru.
The Orange-billed Sparrow has an orange bill; yellow-brown nape; yellow shoulders; black head with white superciliium; white underparts; black breast band.
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony 2) Joule_e  3) Nick Athanas - Ecuador  4) Francesco_Veronesi - Ecuador


Sparrow,_Pectoral  Arremon taciturnus  Found: South America
The Pectoral Sparrow has green upperparts; black bill, face; white supercilium.
Image by: 1) Julani Photos  2) John Mittermeier  3) Claudio_Timm


Sparrow,_Saffron-billed  Arremon flavirostris  Found: South America
The Saffrron-billed Sparrow has gray upperparts with yellow shoulder; white underparts with black breast band; gray flanks; black cap, mask; white supercilium starts above eye and approaches nape; orange-yellow bill. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Image by: 1, 2) Dario Sanches - Brazil  3) Nick Athanas - Brazil


Sparrow,_Sao Francisco   Arremon franciscanus Found: Brazil
The Sao Francisco Sparrow has black head with white supercilium and narrow white median crown stripe; white underparts with narrow black half-collar; yellow bill.
Similar to: Half-collared Sparrow. Half-collared Sparrow has wider "half-collar" than Sao Francisco Sparrow. Sao Francisco Sparrow has all yellow bill; Half-collared Sparrow has black upper-mandible and yellow lower-mandible
Image by: 1) Arthur Grosset  2) Nick Athanas - Brazil



Genus Arremonops
All species are found in Central America, Mexico, and/or northern South America. The Olive Sparrow reaches southern Texas.

Sparrow,_Black-striped  Arremonops conirostris  Found: Central and South America
The Black-striped Sparrow has olive upperparts; gray head; broad black stripes on each side of crown; black eye-stripes; off-white underparts shading to olive on lower belly; pale gray flanks.
Similar to: Tocuyo Sparrow. Tocuyo Sparrow slightly smaller than Black-striped Sparrow and slightly paler. Principally segregate by habitat, with Black-striped inhabiting more humid areas in their zone of overlap
Image by: 1, 2) Nathan Rupert - San Diego Zoo  3) Dick Daniels - Boquette, Panama  4) Nick Athanas - Costa Rica


Sparrow,_Green-backed  Arremonops chloronotus  Found: southeastern Mexico, Belize, northern Guatemala, western Honduras
The Green-backed Sparrow has bright green upperparts; gray head with black stripes.
Image by: 1, 2) Dominic Sherony - Belize 3) Amy McAndrews - Mexico


Sparrow,_Olive  Arremonops rufivirgatus  Found: southern Texas, Central America
Olive Sparrow is the only sparrow with an olive back. It has a prominent brown eye streak and a brown-striped crown, with a buffy breast, some white belly feathers, and a conical beak.
Image by: 1) Alan D. Wilson - Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas  2) Bill Bouton - Texas   3) Jerry Oldenettel - Texas 4) naturespicsonline.com


Sparrow,_Tocuyo   Arremonops tocuyensis  Found: Columbia, Venezuela
The Tocuyo Sparrow has olive upperparts; gray head; broad black stripes on each side of crown; black eye-stripes; off-white underparts shading to olive on lower belly; pale gray flanks.
Tocuyo Sparrow is a rather uncommon inhabitant of scrubby areas and patches of low-stature deciduous woodland, and is usually found either alone or in pairs, on or close to the ground.
Similar to: Black-striped Sparrow. Tocuyo Sparrow slightly smaller than Black-striped Sparrow and slightly paler. Principally segregate by habitat, with Black-striped inhabiting more humid areas in their zone of overlap,
Image by: 1) Andy Bunting - Columbia  2, 3) Nick Athanas - Columbia



Genus Artemisiospiza

Sparrow,_Bell's  Artemisiospiza belli  Found: southwestern United States, northwestern Mexico
The Bell's Sparrow Sage Sparrow has a buffy-brown back with muted stripes; gray-brown head; white eye-ring; white throat; white moustacial stripe; white underparts; dark spot on breast.
Similar to: Sagebrush Sparrow. Sagebrush Sparrow and Bell's Sparrow are very similar. Bell’s Sparrow has a thicker malar (cheek) strip than sagebrush
Image by: 1, 2) Tom Benson  3) Bill Bouton   4) Becky_Matsubara - California


Sparrow,_Sagebrush  Artemisiospiza nevadensis  Found: North America (southwest desert)
The Sage Sparrow Sage Sparrow has a buffy-brown back with muted stripes; gray-brown head; white eye-ring; white throat; white moustacial stripe; white underparts; dark spot on breast.
Similar to: Bell's Sparrow. Sagebrush Sparrow and Bell's Sparrow are very similar. Bell’s Sparrow has a thicker malar (cheek) strip than sagebrush
Similar to: Black-throated Sparrow. Black-throated Sparrow distinguished by its black throat.
Similar to: Five-striped Sparrow. Sagebrush Sparrow has broad white throat; Five-striped Sparrow has little or no white on throat.
Image by: 1. 2) Jamie Chevez    3) Dominic Sherony  4) Charlie Westerinen - Nevada



Genus Chlorospingus
The members of this genus were previously placed in the tanager family Thraupidae. Since they are now placed in Emberizidae, calling them Tangers is no longer appropriate. Their closed relatives my the species in genus Arremonops.

Chlorospingus,_Ashy-throated also Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus canigularis   Found: western South America
The Ashy-throated Chlorospingus has gray head; paler throat; yellow breast-band.
Image by: 1, 2) Alejandro Tamayo  3) Ana Agreda  4) Nick Athanas - Ecuador


Chlorospingus,_Common also Common Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus flavopectus   Found: Mexico to northern South America
The Common Chlorospingus has olive upperparts; brown head; white spot behind eye; light throat; yellow underparts becoming white on belly. There is a large variaton in the subspecies.
Image by: 1) Andres Cuervo  2) Charles Smart  3, 4, 5, 6) Nick Athanas - Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico
3) C. f. argentinus (southernmost subspecies) 4) C. f. regionalis (s. Mexico to Panama)  5) C. f. postocularis (w. Guatelama and nearby Mexico)  6) C. f. wetmorei (Mexico)

Chlorospingus,_Dusky also Dusky Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus semifuscus   Found: Columbia, Ecuador
The Dusky Chlorospingus has olive upperparts; dark grayish head, neck; brownish-gray underparts; yellowish flanks (some subspecies); .
Image by: 1) Sergey Pisarevskiy   2) Don Faulkner - Ecuador  3) Nick Arthanas - Ecuador  4) Francesco_Veronesi


Chlorospingus, Pirre also Pirre Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus inornatus   Found: Columbia, Ecuador
The Pirre Chlorospingus has olive upperparts; blackish crown, forehead; dirty yellowunderparts; pale but bold eyes.
Image by: 1) Stewart Bentley


Chlorospingus, Short-billed also Short-billed Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus parvirostris   Found: western South America
The Short-billed Chlorospingus has olive upperparts; grayish underparts; pale eyes; yellow throat-sided. Also called Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager.
Image by: 1) Lev Frid  2) Tony_Castro - Ecuador


Chlorospingus, Sooty-capped also Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus pileatus   Found: Costa Rica, Panama
The Dusky Chlorospingus has olive upperparts; yellow underparts becoming whiter on belly; bold white supercilium continues to nape; gray throat.
Image by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - Costa Rica  2) Carol Foil - Costa Rica  3) Kathy and Sam - Costa Rica  4) Nick Athanas - Costa Rica


Chlorospingus,_Tacarcuna  Chlorospingus tacarcunae  Found: mainly Panama; also northwest Columbia
The Tacarcuna Chlorospingus has mainly yellowiish-olive upperparts.
Image by: 1) Bjorn_Anderson


Chlorospingus,_Yellow-green also Yellow-green Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus flavovirens  Found: Columbia, Ecuador
The Yellow-green Chlorospingus has dull olive upperparts; olive-yellow underparts; becoming more yellow near vent..
Image by: 1) Nick Athanas - Ecuador


Chlorospingus,_Yellow-throated also Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus flavigularis   Found: western South America
The Yellow-throated Chlorospingus has olive upperparts; grayish underparts; pale eyes; yellow throat.
Image by: 1) Aves_y_Conservacion  2) David Cook - Ecuador  3) Nick Athanas - Ecuador  4) Jerry Oldenettel - Ecuador



Genus Chondestes - 1 species

Sparrow,_Lark Chondestes grammacus Found: North America, Europe
Lark Sparrow is distinctive. Adults have a typically sparrow-like dark-streaked brown back, and white underparts except for a dark central spot. The cheeks and crown sides are chestnut, with white eyebrow and crown stripes. The dark tail's corners are also white.
Image by: 1) Alan D. Wilson - Arizona  2) Len Blumin - California   3) Kat and Sam - Oregon  4) Nick Athanas - Mexico  5) Teddy Llovet




Genus Melospiza
These are medium-sized sparrows with long tails, which are pumped in flight and held moderately high on perching. They occurs as a few individuals or solitary. They prefer brushy habitats, often near water.

Sparrow,_Lincoln's  Melospiza lincolnii  Found: North America
Lincoln's Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow has a thin gray crown stripe; thinly streaked light brown breast; white belly; brown eye-line, eye-ring,  Some have a dark breast spot.
Similar to: Song Sparrow. Lincoln's Sparrow tail is shorter than a Song Sparrow and is much more shy than a Song Sparrow.
Image by: 1) Brian McClure  2)  Ed Gaillard - New York City  3, 5) Bill Bouton - California   4)   Kelly Colgan Azar  6) Becky_Matsubara - California
1) Juvenile 



Sparrow,_Song Melospiza melodia Found: North America
The Song Sparrow is very varied, approximately 30 subspecies. It has thick dark streaks on breast; gray face, eye-line, eye-ring,  Some have a dark breast spot. They are named for the male's melodious singing which they often perform while conspicuosly perched.
Similar to: Lincoln's Sparrow. Lincoln's Sparrow tail is shorter than a Song Sparrow and is much more shy than a Song Sparrow.
Image by: 1) Brendan Lally  2) Len Blumin - California  3) Ingrid Taylar - California    4) Ken Schneider - Illinois  5)  Eugene Beckes  6, 7) Dick Daniels - North Carolina  8, 9) Dick - Maine  10) Dick - California
1) Aleutian 


Sparrow,_Swamp  Melospiza georgiana  Found: North America 
Swamp Sparrrow have streaked rusty, buff and black upperparts with a gray breast, light belly and a white throat. The wings are strikingly rusty. Most males and a few females have a rust-colored caps. Their face is gray with a dark line through the eye. They have a short bill and fairly long legs.
Image by:1) Dick Daniels - the Washington National Zoo   2) Keenan Adams, USFWS    3, 4) Dick - McGee Island, Maine     5) Ken Schneider - Illinios  6) Laura Gooch



Sparrow,_Coastal Plain Swamp   Melospiza georgiana  Found: North America 
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - the Washington National Zoo  2) Pauls95Blazer
This is a subspecies of the Swamp Sparrow that lives in saltwater marshes along the milddle Atlantic states.



Genus Oreothraupis - 1 species

Finch, Tanager   Oreothraupis arremonops   Found: Columbia, Ecuador
The Tanager Finch has a black head with white superciliums and white median crown stripe. Debatable whether in Bunting family Emberizidae  or  Tanager family Thraupidae.
Image by:  1) Arley_Vargas  2) Francesco Veronesi - Ecuador  3) Diego Calderon  4) Nick Athanas - Ecuador



Genus Passerculus - 1 species

Sparrow,_Savannah Passerculus sandwichensis Found: North America and South America
The Savannah Sparrow has many variations. They all have a narrow whitish crown stripe and a white throat. Most have a yellow stripe above and in front of the eye.
Similar to: Nelson's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow has a white crown stripe; these other sparrows do not.
Similar to: Vesper Sparrow. Vesper Sparrow has white eye-ring; Savannah Sparrow does not.
Image by: 1) Ken Schneider - Illinois   2)   Len Blumin - California  3) Elaine R. Wilson - California   4) Mdf - Ontario   5) Donna Dewhurst,USFWS - Alaska    6)  Mike Baird - California   7) Dick Daniels - Assateague, Virginia  8) Dick - North Carolina  9) Matt Tillett - Delaware   10, 11) John B. - Rhode Island (Ipswich)  12) USFWS - California (Belding's) 
9, 10) Ipswich Savannah Sparrow  11) Belding's Savannah Sparrow



Genus Passerella - 1 species

Sparrow,_Fox Passerella iliaca  Found: North America 
Fox Sparrows are amongst the largest sparrows, heavily spotted and streaked underneath. All feature a messy central breast spot though it is less noticeable on the thick billed and slate-colored varieties. Plumage varies markedly from one group to another.
Image by:   1) Mdf - Whitby, Ontario, Canada   2) Elaine R. Wilson  British Columbia  3) Alan D. Wilson - British Columbia  4) Dick Daniels - San Francisco, CA  5) Becky_Matsubara - California




Genus Peucaea
These sparrows were formerly in genus Aimophila. They are medium sized sparrows with a relatively long bill and a long, graduated tail.

Sparrow,_Bachman's    Peucaea aestivalis  (formerly  Aimophila aestivalis) Found:Southeastern United States
The Bachman's Sparrow has brown upperparts; gray crown; black streaking on nape, back, primaries; gray face; rufous-brown eye-stripe; buff breast; white belly.
Similar to: Botteri's Sparrow. The range does not overlap.
Image by: 1, 2) Leppyone - Florida  3) Dan Irizarry  4) Daniel Berganza - Florida


Sparrow,_Black-chested  Peucaea humeralis Found: Mexico
The Black-chested Sparrow has black breast-band; white throat edged with black stripes; white moustache.
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans  2) Ron Knight  3) Jukka Jantunen


Sparrow,_Botteri's  Peucaea botterii  (formerly  Aimophila botterii ) Found: North America (the southwest)
The Botteri's Sparrow has streak brownish-gray upperparts; plain buff-gray underparts; pale supercilium.
Similar to: Bachman's Sparrow. The range does not overlap.
Similar to: Cassin's Sparrow. Botteri's Sparrow has irregular white around eye, Cassin's Sparrow has pale eye-ring.
Image by: 1) Alastair Rae  2, 4) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico 3) Marcel Holyoak - Arizona


Sparrow,_Bridled  Peucaea mystacalis  Found: Mexico
The Bridled Sparrow has brown upperparts with black stripes; light gray head; black throat bordered with white; gray breast; whitish belly.
Image by: 1, 2) Jerry Oldenettel 3) Francesco_Veronesi  4) Nick Athanas 


Sparrow,_Cassin's   Peucaea cassinii  Found: North America
The Cassin's Sparrow has a brown upperparts, head, wings; buff supercilium; light brownish-gray bill; dark brown eyes; pale gray chin, throat, breast; whitish belly; some dark streaks on the lower flanks.
Similar to: Botteri's Sparrow. Botteri's Sparrow has irregular white around eye, Cassin's Sparrow has pale eye-ring.
Image by: 1) Jason Forbes - Colorado  2) Bill Bouton - Texas  3) Jerry_Oldenettel  4) Dominic Sherony


Sparrow,_Cinnamon-tailed  Peucaea sumichrasti  Found: Mexico
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony  2) Amy McAndrews  3, 4) Nick Athanas  5) Jerry  Oldenettel



Sparrow,_Rufous-winged   Peucaea carpalis  (formerly  Aimophila carpalis ) Found: North America
The Rufous-winged Sparrow has a brown back with darker streaks; rusty wings, crown, supercilium; pale gray face, underparts; long brown tail; yellow conical bill.
Similar to: Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Rufous-crowned Sparrow has gray bill; Rufous-winged Sparrow has yellow bill. Rufous-crowned has one stripe on lower face; Rufous-winged has 2 stripes.
Image by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexica  2) Dominic Sherony  3) HarmonyOnPlanetEarth - Arizona


Sparrow,_Stripe-headed  Peucaea ruficauda  Found: Central America
The Stripe-headed Sparrow has pale brown upperparts streaked with black on back; rufous shoulders; buffy-brown rump, tail; gray nape; black head; white median crown stripe, supercilium; white throat, breast; rufous flanks, belly.
Image by: 1) Francesco Veronesi - Mexico  2) Len Blumin  3) Don_Faulkner - Costa Rica  4) Ron_Knight



Genus Oriturus - 1 species

Sparrow,_Striped  Oriturus superciliosus  Found: Mexico
The Striped Sparrow has tawny-brown, gray and black upperparts; rufous crown; white supercilium; black mask; whitish underparts.
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans  2) Amy McAndrews  3) Amado_Demesa  4) Pablo Leautaud 



Genus Pooecete- 1 species

Sparrow,_Vesper  Pooecetes gramineus  Found: North America
Vesper Sparrow has light brown upperparts with darker streaking; pale streaked breast, flanks; dark brown upper-tail; white under-tail; white eye-ring, throat, off-white belly.
Similar to: Savannah Sparrow. Vesper Sparrow has a white eye-ring; Savannah Sparrow does not..
Image by: 1) Seabamirum  2) Bill Bouton - California    3) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico  4) Ken Schneider - Illinois   5) Bob Pruner




Genus Rhynchospiza

Sparrow,_Stripe-capped  Rhynchospiza strigiceps  Found: Argentina, western Paraguay, se Bolivia
Image by: 1) Nick Athanas - Argentina


Sparrow,_Tumbes Rhynchospiza stolzmanni  Found: Ecuador, Peru
Image by: 1) Nick Athanas - Ecuador  2) Amy_McAndrews - Peru



Genus Spizella
These birds are fairly small and slim, with short bills, round heads and long wings. They are usually found in semi-open areas.

Sparrow,_Black-chinned  Spizella atrogularis  Found: The Americas
Black-chinned Sparrow has gray head and underparts. The adult male has black around base of bill. Back is rusty brown with black smudges.
Image by: 1) Jerry_Oldenettel - New Mexico  2) Dominic_Sherony   3) Tom_Benson  4) Maggie Smith 
1, 2, 3) Male


Sparrow,_Brewer's  Spizella breweri  Found: North America
Brewer's Sparrow has gray-brown back; brown wings, crown; pale eye-ring; pale gray underparts; notched tail; pale bill with dark tip.
Similar to: Clay-colored Sparrow.  Clay-colored Sparrow has faint crown stripe; Brewer's Sparrow lacks crown stripe.
Image by:  1) J. N. Stuart  2) naturespicsonline - Oregon  3) Seabamirum  4) Dick Daniels - Wyoming  


Sparrow,_Chipping Spizella passerina Found: North America
The Chipping Sparrow has orangish-rust upperparts; gray underparts. Breeding Chipping Sparrow has red cap; bold white supercilium; black eye-line. Nonbreeding has brownish cap; dusky supercilium; dark eye-line.
Similar to: American Tree Sparrow. American Tree Sparrow has bicolored bill; Chipping Sparrow has unicolor bill.
Similar to: Field Sparrow. Chipping Sparrow has black eye-line, bold white supercilium; Field Sparrow has negligible eye-line and faint supercilium.
Image by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) Dick Daniels - North Carolina   8) Dick - Wyoming


Sparrow,_Clay-colored   Spizella pallida  Found: North America
The Clay-colored Sparrow has light brown upperparts with dark streaks on back; dark brown crown with light median stripe; white supercilium; light brown cheek patch; white throat; clay-colored underparts, notched tail.
Similar to: Brewer's Sparrow. Clay-colored Sparrow has faint crown stripe; Brewer's Sparrow lacks crown stripe.
Image by: 1, 3) goingslo  2) Aaron_Maizlish    4) David Mitchell



Sparrow,_Field   Spizella pusilla   Found: North America
The Field Sparrow has brown upperparts; white wing-bars; gray face; rusty crown; white eye-ring; faint supercilium; light brown breast; white belly; forked tail; pink bill.
Similar to: American Tree Sparrow. American Tree Sparrow has bicolored bill; Field Sparrow has pink bill.
Similar to: Chipping Sparrow. Chipping Sparrow has black eye-line, bold white supercilium; Field Sparrow has negligible eye-line and faint supercilium.
Image by:  1) Ken Schneider - Illinois  2) bgv23  3) Andy_Morffew - Texas  4) Kelly Colgan Azar  5) Tom_Benson - Pennsylvania 




Sparrow,_Worthen's  Spizella wortheni  Found: northeast Mexico
The Worthen's Sparrow has gray-brown upperparts with dark brown streaks; gray head with rufous crown; dark brown wings, tail; gray underparts; pink bill;
Image by: 1) Jorge Montejo  2) Amy McAndrews



Genus Spizelloides - 1 species

Sparrow,_American Tree Spizelloides arborea   Found: North America
American Tree Sparrow has rusty back with lighter streaks; brown wings with 2 white wing-bars; rusty cap; gray face; rufous eye-line; gray underparts; light brown flanks; often dark spot in middle of breast; bicolored bill.
Similar to: Chipping Sparrow. American Tree Sparrow has bicolored bill; Chipping Sparrow has unicolor bill.
Similar to: Field Sparrow. American Tree Sparrow has bicolored bill; Field Sparrow has pink bill.
Image by:  1) Dominic Sherony   2) Mdf - Whitby, Ontario, Canada   3) Kelly Colgan Azar   4) Factumquintus - Whitby, Ontario, Canada



Genus Torreornis - 1 species

Sparrow,_Zapata  Torreornis inexpectata  Found: Cuba
The Zapata Sparrow has olive-gray upperparts; dark reddish-brown crown; yellowish underparts.
Image by:  1) Laura Gooch  2) Dominic Sherony   3) Charles_J_Sharp  4) Allan_Hopkins



Genus Xenospiza - 1 species

Sparrow,_Sierra_Madre  Xenospiza baileyi  Found: Mexico
The Sierra Madre Sparrow has rufous upperparts streaked with black; blackish-brown crown stripes; gray ear coverts; black eye-line.
Image by: 1) Dominic Sherony  2) Amy_McAndrews



Genus Zonotrichia
Zonotrichia sparrows have relatively long, square-tipped tail and a slightly peaked crown.

Sparrow,_Golden-crowned Zonotrichia atricapilla Found: North America
The breeding Golden-crowned Sparrow has streaked brown upperparts; black crown; golden forehead; light gray to brown underparts. Nonbreeding has brown crown; pale yellow forehead.
Similar to: White-crowned Sparrow. Golden-crowned Sparrow has yellow on head; White-crowned has no yellow on head.
Image by:  1 Alan Vernon   2) Alexandra MacKenzie  3) Lucina M   4) Rick Leche   5)  Gary Kramer   6) Dick Daniels - Hatcher Pass, Alaska  7) Alejandro_Erickson 
1) Juvenile 2, 3) Nonbreeding 4, 5, , 6, 7) Breeding



Sparrow,_Harris's  Zonotrichia querula  Found: North America
The breeding Harris's Sparrow has brown back with black steaking; 2 pale white wing-bars; white underparts with some black on upper breast; brown-and-black head, face, throat; pink bill,
Similar to: House Sparrow.  The House Sparrow has black or yellowish bill; Harris's Sparrow has a pink bill.   
Image by: 1) Norm Townsend   2) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico  3) Tom Smith - Oklahoma  4) Greg Schechter - California  5) Blake Maybank - California  6) Julio Mulero - California  7) Alan Wilson
1) Juvenile  2) Nonbreeding  3) Eclipse  4, 5, 6, 7) Breeding



Sparrow,_Rufous-collared  Zonotrichia capensis  Found: North America (Mexico), South America 
The Rufous-collared Sparrow has black-streaked buff-brown upperparts; rufous collar; gray head with broad black crown stripes on either side of median; black eye-line, moustachial line; white underparts; stubby gray bill.
Similar to: White-throated Sparrow. The Rufous-collared Sparrow has rufous collar; White-throated Sparrow has no rufous collar.
Image by:  1) Cristiano Crolle - Esteros del Iberà, Argentina  2) dFaulder at Costanera Sur Nature Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina    3) Dario Sanches - Brazil    4, 5) Dick Daniels - Boquette, Panama   6) Dick Daniels- Chile  7, 8, 9) Dick - Quito, Ecuador   10, 11) Nick Athanas - Brazil, Columbia


Sparrow,_White-crowned Zonotrichia leucophrys Found: North America
The White-crowned Sparrow has brown-streaked upperparts; brown wings; black and white streaks on head; gray face, underparts; pink or yellow bill.
Similar to: Golden-crowned Sparrow. Golden-crowned Sparrow has yellow on head; White-crowned has no yellow on head.
Similar to: White-throated Sparrow. The White-throated Sparrow has white throat; White-crowned Sparrow has gray throat.
Image by: 1) Elaine R. Wilson - Near San Antonio, New Mexico    2) Alan D. Wilson - Near San Antonio, New Mexico  3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California  6) Andy_Morffew - Texas  7) Wolfgang_Wander



Sparrow,_White-throated Zonotrichia albicollis Found: North America
The White-throated Sparrow has brown upperparts; rufous wings with 2 white wing-bars; gray underparts; white throat; yellow lores; dark eyes; gray bill. One variation has black crown with white median stripe; white supercilium. Other variation has dark brown crown with tan median stripe; tan supercilium.
Similar to: Rufous-collared Sparrow. The Rufous-collared Sparrow has rufous collar; White-throated Sparrow has no rufous collar.
Similar to: White-crowned Sparrow. TThe White-throated Sparrow has white throat; White-crowned Sparrow has gray throat.
Image by: 1) Christopher Paquette  2) Cephas - Quebec  3) New Jersy Birds      4) Dick Daniels - Maine   5, 6) Becky Gregory- Virginia tan morph  7, 8, 9) Dick - Brookfield Gardens - South Carolina  10) Cephas
6) Tan morph 









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