Rufous-winged Sparrow Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A slim sparrow with a fairly long tail and a small, conical bill.

  Relative Size

  Larger than a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, smaller than a White-crowned Sparrow.

  sparrow-sized or smaller

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
    • Weight: 0.5-0.6 oz (13-17 g)
    • Wingspan: 8.3 in (21 cm)
• Color Pattern

  Adult is pale brown above with a rusty crown and eyeline and two dark malar stripes bordering the throat. Gray to whitish below, with white wingbars, and a rusty shoulder patch (often difficult to see).

• Behavior

  Hops or walks slowly to pick seeds and insects from the ground or low vegetation. Occasionally picks insects from tree leaves or branches or makes brief flights to capture them. Males sing as soon as rains commence.

• Habitat

  Resident in desert thornscrub of southeastern Arizona, typically areas of mesquite, acacia, hackberry, and paloverde with scattered cacti and grasses.