Black-chinned sparrow

Spizella atrogularis

The black-chinned sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) is a small bird in the genus Spizella, in the New World sparrow family Passerellidae.

Family: Passerellidae Order: passerines Conservation: Least Concern

About the Black-chinned sparrow

The black-chinned sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) is a small bird in the genus Spizella, in the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. It is found in the southwestern United States and throughout much of Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec; most populations in the US migrate south after breeding while those in Mexico are resident. It is a slim, long-tailed bird, primarily gray with a reddish-brown back streaked with black, brown wings and tail, a pink beak, and brownish legs and feet. In the breeding season, the male shows black on his throat, chin, and the front of his face. Females, youngsters and nonbreeding males show little or no black in these areas. An unobtrusive bird, it spends much of its time foraging slowly along the ground, either alone or in small groups, sometimes mix

Fun Facts About Black-chinned sparrow

It builds a cup-shaped nest of grasses, rootlets, or plant fibers, into which the female lays 2–5 pale blue eggs.
The species was first described by Jean Louis Cabanis in 1851.
The female does most or all of the egg incubation, but both parents feed the hatched nestlings.
In the breeding season, the male shows black on his throat, chin, and the front of his face.
Four subspecies have been identified: one breeds only in the US, one only in Mexico, and the other two breed in both countries.

Conservation Status

The Black-chinned sparrow is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.

View on IUCN Red List →

Taxonomy & Classification

Order	passerines
Family	Passerellidae
Genus	Spizella
Species	Spizella atrogularis

Range & Habitat