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Emberizids

58 Bird Species

Abert's Towhee

This large pale sparrow-like bird is recognized by its rather uniform buffy, clay-brown plumage and poorly-defined black face mask, which contrasts with the pale bill. Underparts are slightly paler than the upperparts and can show a bit of pinkish cast. The tail is darker than the body and the undert more...

Length: 21 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

American Tree Sparrow

This sparrow winters farther north than most other species, and frequents bird feeders. It appears long and slender, with a long notched tail and short bill. The upper mandible is blackish, while the lower mandible is yellow. Upperparts are streaked with black, brown and buffy, with two crisp white w more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 25 cm

Bachman's Sparrow

This sparrow of the southeast has a rounded tail, flat crown, and a fairly large bill. The upper mandible is darker than the lower mandible. Upperparts are gray with rufous streaking. Birds in the southeast part of the range have darker streaking. The blackish tertials are edged in rufous. The head s more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 20 cm

Baird's Sparrow

This species is an uncommon resident of mixed grass prairie. Appears flat-headed and large-billed. The short tail is square or slightly notched. The central crown stripe and supercilium are ochre, fading to buffy on the rest of the face. The eye line and moustachial stripe are broken or missing near more...

Length: 12 cm Wingspan: 22 cm

Black-chinned Sparrow

This sparrow has a slender build and is somewhat junco-like in appearance. The long tail is square or slightly notched. The entire head and underparts are gray, with a small pink bill and pink legs and feet. The back and wings are brown with dark streaks. In alternate plumage, males have black throat more...

Length: 12 cm Wingspan: 23 cm

Black-throated Sparrow

This sparrow is instantly recognized by its bold markings. The face is gray, darkening to black near the bill, with a bold white supercilium and malar stripe. The black throat extends onto the breast forming a triangular black bib. The upperparts are plain brownish-gray. The tail is blackish with a w more...

Length: 12 cm Wingspan: 22 cm

Botteri's Sparrow

This rather plain sparrow appears long-billed, flat-headed, and has a rounded tail. The head shows a finely streaked crown, and an indistinct pale supercilium and dark eye line. The upperparts are gray with steaks of black and brown. Arizona birds are more reddish on the upperparts. The underparts a more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 23 cm

Brewer's Sparrow

Sometimes the best field mark is no field mark. This certainly applies to this slim sparrow of the sagebrush flats. Upperparts are light brown with dark streaks on the back and blurry streaks on the rump. The head shows a finely streaked crown that usually lacks a pale central crown stripe, and a fai more...

Length: 12 cm Wingspan: 20 cm

California Towhee

This species averages darker and stockier than the similar Canyon Towhee. Medium gray-brown overall, with a darker tail and a faint reddish cast to the crown. The face and throat are washed cinnamon, and are outlined by an indistinct necklace of blurry streaks. Belly is paler, and the undertail cover more...

Length: 21 cm Wingspan: 29 cm

Canyon Towhee

This species is generally paler than the other brown towhees. Upperparts are pale gray-brown, with a rufous cap and pale eye ring. The tail is slightly darker, with inconspicuous white tips on the outer tail feathers. The sides are pale gray-brown, fading to whitish on the belly. The throat and upper more...

Length: 21 cm Wingspan: 28 cm

Cassin's Sparrow

Very similar to Botteri's Sparrow, but with a slightly smaller bill and a peaked crown. Feathers on the upperparts are brown with pale gray edges and black bars. Looks scaly on back. The tail is blackish, except for the central tail feathers, which are lighter with black bars. In fresh plumage, the o more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 23 cm

Chestnut-collared Longspur

Alternate adult male has black belly, pale yellow face and throat, bright reddish nape, black crown and eyeline, tiny black bill, streaky brown and black back, and brownish wings and tail. Basic adult male and alternate adult female are brown overall, with faint red nape, dark spots on auriculars, pa more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 27 cm

Chipping Sparrow

A small slender sparrow with a distinctive head pattern. In all plumages, gray rump distinguishes this species from similar Clay-colored and Brewer's Sparrows. In alternate plumage, note rufous crown, white supercilium, and black lores and eye line. Face and nape pale gray. Upperparts chestnut streak more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 20 cm

Clay-colored Sparrow

A small, slender sparrow with long notched tail. In alternate plumage, the striking head pattern includes a darkly streaked crown with white median stripe, broad whitish supercilium, brown ear coverts boldly outlined in dark brown, whitish malar stripe, and dark lateral throat stripe. Upperparts are more...

Length: 12 cm Wingspan: 20 cm

Dark-eyed Junco

Often called "snowbird," this species shows a tremendous amount of variation across the continent. The 12 subspecies fall into six identifiable groups, described below. In all plumages, white outer tail feathers are obvious in flight. All but one subspecies show a pale pinkish bill. In most populatio more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 23 cm

Eastern Towhee

While this sparrow is large and boldly marked, it is often difficult to see due to its fondness for heavy cover. Male: Upperparts are black, with white corners on the long black tail, and a black hood covering the upper breast. The sides and flanks are bright rufous, while the belly is white. Underta more...

Length: 17 cm Wingspan: 25 cm

Abert's Towhee
3 Photographs
American Tree Sparrow
34 Photographs
Bachman's Sparrow
2 Photographs
Baird's Sparrow
1 Photograph
Black-chinned Sparrow
22 Photographs
Black-throated Sparrow
15 Photographs
Botteri's Sparrow
6 Photographs
Brewer's Sparrow
20 Photographs
California Towhee
10 Photographs
Canyon Towhee
10 Photographs
Cassin's Sparrow
3 Photographs
Chestnut-collared Longspur
3 Photographs
Chipping Sparrow
18 Photographs
Clay-colored Sparrow
16 Photographs
Dark-eyed Junco
38 Photographs
Eastern Towhee
6 Photographs

Non-vegetated Areas

1 species

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Bare Rocky Slopes, Beaches, Coastal Dunes, Open Country and Grasslands

Salt Water

9 species

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Beaches, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

McKay's Bunting

Plectrophenax hyperboreus

Rocky Shores, Beaches, Open Country and Grasslands

Nelson's Sparrow

Ammospiza nelsoni

Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Ammospiza caudacuta

Saltmarshes

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Rocky Shores, Coastal Dunes, Saltmarshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Seaside Sparrow

Ammospiza maritima

Saltmarshes

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Bare Rocky Slopes, Beaches, Coastal Dunes, Open Country and Grasslands

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

Coastal Dunes, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Clearcuts, Oak Savannah and Woodlands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia, Thickets

Swamp Sparrow

Melospiza georgiana

Estuaries and Bays, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Northern Wooded Swamps, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia, Thickets