Old World Sparrows
Members of the Emberizidae Family
American sparrows are similar in both appearance and habit to finches.
Description
American Sparrows are seed-eating birds with conical bills, The plumage is mostly in shades of brown or grey and many species have distinctive head patterns.
Species in taxonomic order
Genus Arremon
- Orange-billed Sparrow, Arremon aurantiirostris
- Pectoral Sparrow, Arremon taciturnus
- Half-collared Sparrow, Arremon semitorquatus
- Golden-winged Sparrow, Arremon schlegeli
- Black-capped Sparrow, Arremon abeillei
- Saffron-billed Sparrow, Arremon flavirostris
- Chestnut-capped Brush Finch, Arremon brunneinucha
Genus Arremonops
- Olive Sparrow, Arremonops rufivirgatus
- Tocuyo Sparrow, Arremonops tocuyensis
- Green-backed Sparrow, Arremonops chloronotus
- Black-striped Sparrow, Arremonops conirostris
Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, Melozone kieneri- Prevost's Ground-Sparrow, Melozone biarcuatum
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Melozone leucotis
Genus Pipilo
- Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
- Collared Towhee, Pipilo ocai
- Socorro Towhee, Pipilo socorroensis
- Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
- Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
- California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis
- Canyon Towhee, Pipilo fuscus
- Abert's Towhee, Pipilo aberti
- White-throated Towhee, Pipilo albicollis
Genus Aimophila
- Bridled Sparrow, Aimophila mystacalis
- Black-chested Sparrow, Aimophila humeralis
- Stripe-headed Sparrow, Aimophila ruficauda
- Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, Aimophila sumichrasti
- Stripe-capped Sparrow, Aimophila strigiceps
- Tumbes Sparrow, Aimophila stolzmanni
- Bachman's Sparrow, Aimophila aestivalis
- Botteri's Sparrow, Aimophila botterii : A medium-sized sparrow found primarily in Mexico, with a breeding range that extends to the southeastern tip of Arizona. Small populations can be found in the southern-most tip of Texas
- Cassin's Sparrow, Aimophila cassinii
- Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps
- Rufous-winged Sparrow, Aimophila carpalis
- Five-striped Sparrow, Aimophila quinquestriata : A medium-sized sparrow. This passerine bird is primarily found along the Pacific coast region of mainland Mexico, with a breeding range that extends into the southern tip of the U.S. state of Arizona. This species is a regular victim of cowbird nest parasites.
- Oaxaca Sparrow, Aimophila notosticta
- Rusty Sparrow, Aimophila rufescens
- Striped Sparrow, Oriturus superciliosus
- Zapata Sparrow, Torreornis inexpectata
Genus Spizella
- American Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea
- Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
- Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
- Brewer's Sparrow, Spizella breweri
- Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla
- Worthen's Sparrow, Spizella wortheni
- Black-chinned Sparrow, Spizella atrogularis
- Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
- Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
Genus Amphispiza
- Black-throated Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata
- Sage Sparrow, Amphispiza belli
- Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys
- Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
Genus Ammodramus
- Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus
- Nelson's Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni
- Saltmarsh Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus
- Le Conte's Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii
- Henslow's Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii
- Baird's Sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii
- Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
- Grassland Sparrow, Ammodramus humeralis
- Yellow-browed Sparrow, Ammodramus aurifrons
- Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca
- Sierra Madre Sparrow, Xenospiza baileyi
Genus Melospiza
- Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
- Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
- Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
Genus Zonotrichia
- White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
- White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
- Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
- Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis
- Harris's Sparrow, Zonotrichia querula
Genus Junco
- Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
- Yellow-eyed Junco, Junco phaeonotus
- Guadalupe Junco, Junco insularis
- Volcano Junco, Junco vulcani
Species Research by Sibylle Johnson
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