A small sparrow of western sage habitats. Among the most common sage-steppe songbirds.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Brewer's sparrow is a small, slim species of American sparrow in the family Passerellidae. This bird was named after the ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer.
Source: Wikipedia — Brewer's sparrow Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Small, slim, very plain pale brown sparrow with fine streaking on a brown crown, a pale eye ring, and an unmarked grayish breast. The plainest of the 'little brown' sparrows.
Similar species. Clay-colored Sparrow has a bolder face pattern with a pale crown stripe and gray nape; Chipping Sparrow has a rufous cap.
Voice. A long series of varied buzzy trills at different pitches — surprisingly elaborate for such a plain bird.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Seeds (primary), insects (especially during breeding).
Behavior. An unassuming sagebrush specialist; sings a remarkably long, complex, canary-like song from atop a shrub. Forms flocks in winter.
§ Range
Western US
§ Habitat
Sagebrush habitats
§ Threats
Sagebrush loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the brewer's sparrow is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support sagebrush conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Brewer's sparrow
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Spizella breweri
- IUCN Red List — search for Spizella breweri
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Spizella breweri
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
