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Rufous-winged Sparrow

Peucaea carpalis ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: EMBERIZIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Uncommon and sparsely distributed, the Rufous-winged Sparrow resides in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. It times its nesting attempts with the onset of the summer rains.

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Appearance

Sparrows
Sparrows
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small sparrow.
  • Gray head with rufous crown.
  • Rufous stripe behind eye.
  • Two thin black mustache stripes on each side of bill.
  • Streaked upperparts.
  • Rufous patches on wings often concealed.
  • Plain gray underparts.

Immature Description

Juvenile lacks strong rufous of adult, and is streaked on chest.

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  • Adult
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    Rufous-winged Sparrow

    Adult
    • © Herbert Clarke / CLO

Similar Species

  • Rufous-crowned Sparrow is larger, with gray bill, solid rufous cap, and one stripe on the lower face instead of two.