Black-throated Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow, adult

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Black-throated Sparrow, juvenile

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Sound
4. Range
5. Conservation Status
6. Other Names

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

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.

Description

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

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

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Immature

Juvenile similar, without black throat, but with dusky streaks and spots across chest.

Sound

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

Range

Range Map

© 2003 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Summer Range

Breeds from southern Oregon and Idaho southward to central Mexico and central Texas. Also locally in Washington and central California.

Winter Range

Winters from southern Nevada and central Texas southward.

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)

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.