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American Sparrows
New World sparrows are a group of mainly New World passerine birds, forming the family Passerellidae. They are seed-eating birds with conical bills, brown or gray in color, and many species have distinctive head patterns. Although they share the name sparrow, New World sparrows are more closely related to Old World buntings than they are to the Old World sparrows (family Passeridae). New World sparrows are also similar in both appearance and habit to finches, with which they sometimes used to be classified. Taxonomy The genera now assigned to the family Passerellidae were previously included with the buntings in the family Emberizidae. A phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences published in 2015 found that the Passerellidae formed a monophyletic group that had an uncertain relationship to the Emberizidae. Emberizidae was therefore split and the family Passerellidae resurrected. It had originally been introduced, as the subfamily Passerellinae, by the Ger ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-crowned Sparrow
The white-crowned sparrow (''Zonotrichia leucophrys'') is a species of passerine bird native to North America. A medium-sized member of the New World sparrow family, this species is marked by a grey face and black and white streaking on the upper head. It breeds in brushy areas in the taiga and tundra of the northernmost parts of the continent and in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coast. While southerly populations in the Rocky Mountains and coast are largely resident, the breeding populations of the northerly part of its range are migratory and can be found as wintering or passage visitors through most of North America south to central Mexico. Etymology The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name ''Zonotrichia'' is from Ancient Greek (, ) and (, ). The species name ''leucophrys'' is from (, ) and (, ). Description Adults have black and white stripes on their head, a gray face, brown streaked upper parts and a long tail. The wings are brown with bars and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peucaea
''Peucaea'' is a genus of American sparrows. The species in this genus used to be included in the genus ''Aimophila''. Taxonomy and species A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2009 found that the genus ''Aimophila'' was polyphyletic. In the resulting reorganization to create monophyletic genera, eight species were moved from ''Aimophila'' to the resurrected genus ''Peucaea''. ''Peucaea'' had been introduced by the Franco-American ornithologist John James Audubon in 1839. The genus name is from the Ancient Greek ''peukē'' meaning "pine-tree". The type species was designated by English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1841 as ''Fringilla bachmani'', a taxon now considered to be a subspecies of Bachman's sparrow with the trinomial name ''Peucaea aestivalis bachmani''. ''Peucaea'' is the sister genus to '' Ammodramus'' within the family Passerellidae. The genus contains the following 8 species: * Rufous-winged sparrow, ''Peucaea carpalis'' * Cinnamon-tailed sparrow, ''Peu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Artemisiospiza
''Artemisiospiza'' is a genus of birds in the American sparrow family, formally described by Klicka and Banks, 2011. Species It contains two species: The two species historically comprised the sage sparrow complex, but were split in 2013 by the American Ornithological Society. Both ''Artemisiospiza'' species inhabit dry areas of the western United States and northern Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar .... References {{Taxonbar, from=Q10735395 Bird genera American sparrows Birds of North America Taxa named by John Klicka Taxa named by Richard C. Banks ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zonotrichia
''Zonotrichia'' is a genus of five extant American sparrows of the family Passerellidae. Four of the species are North American, but the rufous-collared sparrow breeds in highlands from the extreme southeast of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on Hispaniola. Etymology The genus name ''Zonotrichia'' is from Ancient Greek (, ) and (, ). Species The species in the genus ''Zonotrichia'' are: These birds have brown backs streaked with black, and distinctive head markings. Their cup nests, built by the female, are of plant material lined with fine grasses and constructed on the ground, low in a tree or bush, or in a niche in a wall. The female lays brown-blotched greenish-blue or greenish white eggs, which she incubates for 12–14 days. The male helps in feeding the chicks. ''Zonotrichia'' sparrows feed on the ground on seed predation, seeds, fallen grain, insects and spiders. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q914721 Zonotrichia, Bird genera American sparrows Taxa name ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Junco
A junco (), genus ''Junco'', is a small North American bird in the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. Junco systematics are still confusing after decades of research, with various authors accepting between three and twelve species. Despite having a name that appears to derive from the Spanish term for the plant genus '' Juncus'' (rushes), these birds are seldom found among rush plants, which prefer wet ground, while juncos prefer dry soil. Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed forest areas throughout North America, ranging from subarctic taiga to high-altitude mountain forests in Mexico and Central America south to Panama. Northern birds usually migrate farther south; southern populations are permanent residents or altitudinal migrants, moving only a short distance downslope to avoid severe winter weather in the mountains. These birds forage on the ground. In winter, they often forage in flocks. They eat mainly insects and seeds. They usually nest in a well-hid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spizelloides
The American tree sparrow (''Spizelloides arborea''), also known as the winter sparrow, is a medium-sized New World sparrow. Taxonomy In 2014, the American tree sparrow was moved to its own monotypic genus, ''Spizelloides'', from genus ''Spizella'', based on polyphyly in ''Spizella'' and multilocus molecular evidence suggesting the species was strongly divergent from other extant genera. Description The bird's measurements are as follows: * 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. Distribution and habitat Their breeding habitat is tundra or the northern limits of the boreal forest in Alaska and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Passerella
The fox sparrow (''Passerella iliaca'') is a large New World sparrow. It is the only member of the genus ''Passerella'', although some authors split the species into four (see below). Taxonomy More specific information regarding plumage is available in the accounts for the various taxa. * Red fox sparrow, ''P. i. iliaca'' (Merrem, 1786) – this taxon breeds in the taiga of Canada and Alaska and winters in central and eastern North America. This is the brightest colored group. * Sooty fox sparrow, ''P. i. unalaschcensis'' (Gmelin, JF, 1789) – this taxon breeds along the Pacific coast of North America from the Aleutian Islands south to northwestern Washington, and winters from southeastern Alaska south to northern Baja California. It is browner and darker than the red fox sparrow. * Slate-colored fox sparrow, ''P. i. schistacea'' Baird, SF, 1858 – this taxon breeds in interior western North America and winters to the south and west. It has a gray head and mantle, brown wings, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arremon
''Arremon'' is a genus of neotropical birds in the family Passerellidae. With the exception of the green-striped brushfinch which is endemic to Mexico, all species are found in South America, with a few reaching Central America. These sparrows are found in lowland woodlands and forests where they usually forage on the ground. They have olive or grey upperparts with a black head. Many have a white line above the eye and some have a black band across the breast. Taxonomy The genus ''Arremon'' was erected in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in his ''Analyse d'une Nouvelle Ornithologie Élémentaire'' to accommodate the pectoral sparrow (''Arremon taciturnus''). The name is from the Ancient Greek ''arrhēmōn'' meaning "silent" or "without speech". The pectoral sparrow had been given the French name "L'Oiseau Silencieux" by the polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (; 7 September 1707 – 16 April 1788) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spizella
The genus ''Spizella'' is a group of American sparrows in the family Passerellidae. These birds are fairly small and slim, with short bills, round heads and long wings. They are usually found in semi-open areas, and outside of the nesting season they often forage in small mixed flocks. Systematics This genus was formerly placed with the Old World buntings in the family Emberizidae. However, genetic studies revealed that New World sparrows formed a distinct clade and thus it was placed in the resurrected family Passerellidae. Species * Chipping sparrow, ''Spizella passerina'' * Clay-colored sparrow, ''Spizella pallida'' * Brewer's sparrow, ''Spizella breweri'' ** Timberline sparrow, ''Spizella breweri taverneri'' * Field sparrow, ''Spizella pusilla'' * Worthen's sparrow, ''Spizella wortheni'' * Black-chinned sparrow, ''Spizella atrogularis'' The American tree sparrow, ''Spizelloides arborea'', was formerly a member of this group, but is now placed in its own monotypic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Calamospiza
The lark bunting (''Calamospiza melanocorys'') is a medium-sized American sparrow native to central and western North America. It was designated the state bird of Colorado in 1931. Taxonomy The lark bunting is monotypic, the only member of the genus ''Calamospiza'', and is not closely related to any other genera. It was first described by J. K. Townsend in 1837, from a specimen collected on a trip he took with Thomas Nuttall, under the name ''Fringilla bicolor''. This is a preoccupied name, so Leonhard Hess Stejneger renamed the species in 1885 ''Calamospiza melanocorys''. By then, the lark bunting had already been given its own genus, the one it is still placed in, by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1838. Description Lark buntings are small songbirds, with a short, thick, bluish bill. There is a large patch of white on the wings and they have a relatively short tail with white tips at the end of the feathers. Breeding males have an all black body with a large white patch on the u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chondestes
The lark sparrow (''Chondestes grammacus'') is a fairly large New World sparrow. It is the only member of the genus ''Chondestes''. Distribution and habitat It breeds in southern Canada, much of the United States, and northern Mexico. It is much less common in the east, where its range is contracting. The populations in Mexico and adjacent states of the United States are resident, but other birds are migratory, wintering in the southern United States, Mexico and south to Guatemala. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe, with two accepted records in Great Britain in 1981 and 1991. Description The lark sparrow is distinctive. Adults have a typically sparrow-like dark-streaked brown back, and white underparts except for a dark central spot. The cheeks and crown sides are chestnut, with white eyebrow and crown stripes. The dark tail's corners are also white. Young lark sparrows are duller, and the underparts are streaked. Measurements: * Length: 5.9–6.7 in (15–17 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
