Black-chinned Sparrow

The Black-chinned Sparrow, Spizella atrogularis, is a dainty bird of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. It is a slim, long-tailed avian with a high crown, primarily gray with a reddish-brown back streaked with black, and brown wings and tail. The male, during the breeding season, is distinguished by a striking black face, chin, and throat, while females and nonbreeding males exhibit little to no black in these areas.

Identification Tips

Adults possess a pink beak and brownish legs and feet. The male's breeding plumage includes extensive black on the chin, throat, and face, which is lost after the breeding season. Females and nonbreeding males may show a brownish wash on the head and underparts, with indistinct streaking on the underparts and two faint wingbars. Juveniles resemble nonbreeding adults but have notably short tails and paler gray heads.

Habitat

This species favors arid and semi-arid shrublands, including chaparral, sagebrush, and pine-juniper woodlands. It thrives in remote, rugged, and rocky areas, avoiding coastal and edge habitats.

Distribution

The Black-chinned Sparrow is found in the southwestern United States and much of Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Northern populations are migratory, retreating to Mexico after breeding, while Mexican populations are resident.

Behaviour

An unobtrusive bird, the Black-chinned Sparrow spends much time foraging along the ground, either alone or in small groups. It may occasionally mix with other Spizella species. Breeding males are more conspicuous, singing from exposed perches within their territories.

Song & Calls

The call is a high, soft "tsip" or "stip." In flight, it emits a soft "ssip." The song is a series of clear, high-pitched whistles that accelerate into a rapid trill, typically rising in pitch, and likened to the sound of a dropped ping pong ball.

Breeding

The female lays 2-5 pale blue eggs in a cup-shaped nest built of grasses, rootlets, or plant fibers. The female primarily incubates the eggs, while both parents feed the hatched nestlings. Breeding occurs from late April into June, with most pairs raising a single brood per year.

Similar Species

The Black-chinned Sparrow can be confused with the Dark-eyed Junco, but it is slimmer, with a streaked back, brown edges to its wing feathers, and no white in its tail.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily an omnivore, the Black-chinned Sparrow feeds on seeds in the winter and insects in the summer. It forages on or near the ground and may capture insects in flight.

Conservation Status

Despite a decreasing population trend, the Black-chinned Sparrow is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its large population size and extensive range. However, it is vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and climate change, which could pose future threats to its numbers.