A small gray-brown sparrow specialized for sagebrush habitats.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Bell's sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is found in Mexico and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia — Bell's sparrow Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Gray head, white eye ring, single dark malar stripe, dark central breast spot, and brown back. Bell's (coastal/California) is darker and less streaked than interior birds.
Similar species. Sagebrush Sparrow (formerly lumped) is paler with a streaked back; range and habitat help separate the two.
Voice. A tinkling, jumbled series of high musical notes from a shrub perch.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Seeds (primary), insects (especially during breeding).
Behavior. A sagebrush and chaparral specialist that runs on the ground with its tail cocked and twitched; sings from shrub tops in spring.
§ Range
Western US
§ Habitat
Sagebrush habitats
§ Threats
Sagebrush loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the sage sparrow (bell's) is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support sagebrush conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Bell's sparrow
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Artemisiospiza belli
- IUCN Red List — search for Artemisiospiza belli
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Artemisiospiza belli
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
