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Sage Sparrow

Amphispiza belli ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: EMBERIZIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Sage Sparrow Photo

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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.

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Appearance

Sparrows
Sparrows
Typical Voice

Adult Description

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

Immature Description

Juvenile streaked below, with dull, broken whitish eyestripe.

Range Map Help

Sage Sparrow Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult <em>cinerea</em> subspecies
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    Adult cinerea subspecies
    • Paler than other Sage Sparrows
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Guerrero Negro, Baja California, Mexico

Similar Species

  • Five-striped Sparrow is stockier, with plain unstreaked upperparts and gray underparts.
  • Juvenile Black-throated Sparrow similar, but has a bold white eyebrow stripe.