From Opus

Spizella atrogularis

[edit] Identification

Medium sized sparrow, plain, dark grey with brown-streaked back, pale grey belly, black chin and pale eyestripe. Bill is pink. The legs and feet are yellow-grey.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds from south central California east to southern Nevada and southwest Utah, south to Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and Mexico. Spends winters from coastal California, southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, south into Baja California and Mexico.

[edit] Taxonomy

Polytypic. Consists of four subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

In desert regions, inhabit tall, dense sagebrush or other brushlands; in the far west, prefer dry chaparral with a variety of shrubs and scrub oak.

[edit] Behaviour

Forages in brush and on ground. Short flights on rapidly beating wings alternating with periods of wings pulled to sides.

[edit] Vocalisation

Trill of sweet-sweet-swee-iiiiii-r.

[edit] External Links