Black-throated Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow, adult

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Black-throated Sparrow, juvenile

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The striking Black-throated Sparrow is a denizen of open deserts of the western United States and Mexico.

Description

• Black throat.
• Gray body.
• White face stripes.
• White tips to outer tail feathers.

• Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
• Weight: 11-15 g (0.39-0.53 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Sound

Song a series of two opening notes followed by a buzz or trill, or sometimes several.

Conservation Status

Declining across range in United States, probably because of habitat loss to urban development.

Other Names

Bruant à gorge noire (French)
Zacatonero garganta negra (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Black-throated Sparrow establishes and holds a large territory during nest construction and egg laying. Once incubation starts, the territory boundary shrinks, and the male becomes less responsive to intruders.

Sources used to construct this page:

Johnson, M. J., C. Van Riper III, and K. M. Pearson. 2002. Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata). In The Birds of North America, No. 637 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.