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The American tree sparrow (''Spizelloides arborea''), also known as the winter sparrow, is a medium-sized New World sparrow.
It had been classified under the genus ''Spizella'', but multilocus molecular evidence suggested placement in its own genus.
American tree sparrow species account
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter * * * {{taxonbar, from1=Q27076037, from2=Q135913 American tree sparrow Native birds of Alaska Birds of Canada American tree sparrow Taxa named by Alexander Wilson (ornithologist)
The American tree sparrow (''Spizelloides arborea''), also known as the winter sparrow, is a medium-sized New World sparrow.
It had been classified under the genus ''Spizella'', but multilocus molecular evidence suggested placement in its own genus.
Description
Measurements: * Length: 5.5 in (14 cm) * Weight: 0.5-1.0 oz (13-28 g) * Wingspan: 9.4 in (24 cm) Adults have a rusty cap and grey underparts with a small dark spot on the breast. They have a rusty back with lighter stripes, brown wings with white bars and a slim tail. Their face is grey with a rusty line through the eye. Their flanks are splashed with light brown. They are similar in appearance to the chipping sparrow. Due to this, they are sometimes also called the winter chippy. Their breeding habitat istundra
In physical geography, tundra () is a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons. The term ''tundra'' comes through Russian (') from the Kildin Sámi word (') meaning "uplands", "treeless m ...
or the northern limits of the boreal forest in Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U. ...
and northern Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world ...
. They nest on the ground.
These birds migrate into southern Canada and the United States to spend the winter. Usually, chipping sparrows are moving south around the same time as these birds arrive.
These birds forage on the ground or in low bushes, often in flocks when not nesting. They mainly eat seeds and insect
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, Thorax (ins ...
s, but also eat some berries
A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...
. They are commonly seen near feeders with dark-eyed junco
The dark-eyed junco (''Junco hyemalis'') is a species of junco, a group of small, grayish New World sparrows. This bird is common across much of temperate North America and in summer ranges far into the Arctic. It is a very variable species, muc ...
s.
This bird's song is a sweet high warble descending in pitch and becoming buzzy near the finish.
References
* Slager, D.L.; Klicka, J. 2014: A new genus for the American tree sparrow (Aves: Passeriformes: Passerellidae). ''Zootaxa'', 3821(3): 398–400.Further reading
Book
* Naugler, C. T. 1993. ''American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)''. In ''The Birds of North America'', No. 37. (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.Thesis
* Heydweiller AM. Ph.D. (1936). ''LIFE HISTORY OF THE TREE SPARROW, SPIZELLA ARBOREA''. Cornell University, United States, New York. * Naugler CT. M.Sc. (1992). ''Effects of the acoustic environment on song structure and song recognition in the American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea)''. Queen's University at Kingston (Canada), Canada.Articles
* Cusick EK & Wilson FE. (1972). ''On Control of Spontaneous Testicular Regression in Tree Sparrows Spizella-Arborea''. General & Comparative Endocrinology. vol 19, no 3. pp. 441–456. * Delisle JM & Savidge JA. (1997). ''Avian use and vegetation characteristics of conservation reserve program fields''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol 61, no 2. pp. 318–325. * Durairaj G & Martin EW. (1970). ''Fatty-Acid Composition of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea''. American Zoologist. vol 10, no 3. * Hannah KC. (2005). ''An apparent case of cooperative hunting in immature Northern Shrikes''. Wilson Bulletin. vol 117, no 4. pp. 407–409. * Helms CW & Smythe RB. (1969). ''Variation in Major Body Components of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea Sampled within the Winter Range''. Wilson Bulletin. vol 81, no 3. pp. 280–292. * Keiper RR. (1969). ''Causal Factors of Stereotypies in Caged Birds Serinus-Canarius Serinus-Mozambicus Serinus-Leucopygius Spizella-Arborea Junco-Hyemalis Cyanocitta-Cristata Rearing''. Animal Behaviour. vol 17, no 1. pp. 114–119. * Martin EW. (1968). ''The Effects of Dietary Protein on the Energy and Nitrogen Balance of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea-Arborea''. Physiological Zoology. vol 41, no 3. pp. 313–331. * Morrison JV & Wilson FE. (1972). ''Ovarian Growth in Tree Sparrows Spizella-Arborea''. Auk. vol 89, no 1. pp. 146–155. * Paton PWC & Pogson TH. (1996). ''Relative abundance, migration strategy, and habitat use of birds breeding in Denali National Park, Alaska''. Canadian Field-Naturalist. vol 110, no 4. pp. 599–606. * Stuebe MM & Ketterson ED. (1982). ''A STUDY OF FASTING IN TREE SPARROWS (SPIZELLA-ARBOREA) AND DARK-EYED JUNCOS (JUNCO-HYEMALIS) - ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS''. Auk. vol 99, no 2. pp. 299–308.External links
American tree sparrow species account
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter * * * {{taxonbar, from1=Q27076037, from2=Q135913 American tree sparrow Native birds of Alaska Birds of Canada American tree sparrow Taxa named by Alexander Wilson (ornithologist)