Bell's Sparrow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBell's Sparrow
Adult (canescens)
Medium-sized sparrow with a round head, short bill, and long tail. Key field marks include the central breast spot, white eyering, and black-and-white mustache stripes.
© Ronnie Reed / Macaulay LibraryArizona, December 28, 2020Adult (clementeae)
Gray head contrasts with the streaky brown back. Key field marks include the central breast spot, white eyering, and black-and-white mustache stripes.
© Nicole Desnoyers / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 24, 2016Juvenile
Medium-sized sparrow with a round head and long tail. Juveniles are more uniformly brown, lack the gray head, and are streaky beneath.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 11, 2020Adult (belli)
Often sings from high perches in scrubby sagebrush and chaparral areas.
© Melissa James / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 24, 2018Adult (canescens)
In the summer months, males often sing from prominent perches in sagebrush, chaparral, and other scrubby areas.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 08, 2020Similar SpeciesSagebrush Sparrow
Adult
Sagebrush Sparrows are generally paler, with more streaks on the back, than Bell’s Sparrows from coastal California, but on wintering grounds extremely difficult to separate.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryUtah, January 05, 2013Similar SpeciesBlack-throated Sparrow
Adult
Black-throated Sparrows have a black throat and 2 white stripes on the face that Bell's Sparrows lack.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 19, 2013Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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