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Rufous-winged Sparrow

Aimophila carpalis ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: EMBERIZIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Rufous-winged Sparrow Photo

© Herbert Clarke / CLO

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.

Inside Birding
For complete information on this species, visit The Birds of North America Online.

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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Rufous-winged Sparrow Range Map
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Similar Species

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