Sage Sparrow

Sage Sparrow of the pale Baja subspecies A. b. cinerea, Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, 28 Sep 2005.

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

The Sage Sparrow is a common but inconspicuous bird of sagebrush and chaparral in the arid western United States. It spends much of its time on the ground, running between shrubs with its tail raised in the air.

Description

• Medium-sized sparrow.
• Gray head.
• Thin white eyering.
• White breast and belly with dark central spot.
• Broad white and black mustache stripes.

• Size: 12-15 cm (5-6 in)
• Weight: 15-22 g (0.53-0.78 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, male slightly larger.

Sound

Song is a series of abrupt buzzy phrases and/or bell-like notes. Call is a short bell-like "tink."

Conservation Status

Populations appear stable across most of range. Clearing of sagebrush habitat for grazing has probably had a significant negative effect. The Californian subspecies belli is listed as Species of Special Concern in California, and the subspecies clementeae of the California Channel Islands is listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as Threatened.

Other Names

Bruant de Bell (French)
Zacatonero de artemisa (Spanish)
Bell's Sparrow (part) (English)

Cool Facts

• Five subspecies of Sage Sparrow are currently recognized. The three nonmigratory subspecies found in coastal California and Baja California were once collectively considered a separate species, "Bell's Sparrow."

Sources used to construct this page:

Martin, J. W., and B. A. Carlson. 1998. Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli). In The Birds of North America, No. 326 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.