Brewer's Sparrow

The Brewer's sparrow, Spizella breweri, is a diminutive and slender American sparrow belonging to the family Passerellidae. This unassuming bird bears the name of the ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer. Adults are adorned with grey-brown backs and intricately speckled brown crowns, both marked with darker streaks. A subtle pale eye-ring encircles their eyes, and their wings are a muted brown, accented with lighter wing bars. The underparts are a soft pale grey. A pale bill with a darkened tip and a long, notched tail complete their modest appearance.

Identification Tips

When attempting to distinguish the Brewer's sparrow, look for its lack of a pale stripe on the crown and absence of a grey neck patch, features that set it apart from the similar clay-colored sparrow. Key measurements to aid in identification are as follows:

• Length: 5.1-5.9 inches (13-15 cm)
• Weight: 0.4-0.5 ounces (11-14 g)
• Wingspan: 7.1-7.9 inches (18-20 cm)

Habitat

The Brewer's sparrow proper, Spizella breweri breweri, favors brushy terrains, showing a particular affinity for areas abundant with sagebrush, found in the southern regions of western Canada and across the western United States.

Distribution

This species migrates to the southwestern United States and extends as far south as central Mexico.

Behaviour

Outside the breeding season, these sparrows often forage in flocks, sometimes mingling with other sparrow species. The male is known for his vocal defense of nesting territory, delivering a long and varied mix of notes and trills. Notably, males possess two distinct song types, referred to as short and long songs.

Song & Calls

The male Brewer's sparrow's song is an elaborate composition of varied notes and trills, which he uses to assert his claim over a nesting area.

Breeding

The female typically lays a clutch of three to four eggs, occasionally up to five, in a cup-shaped nest strategically placed in low shrubs.

Similar Species

The Brewer's sparrow can be confused with the clay-colored sparrow, but the absence of a pale crown stripe and a grey neck patch can help keen observers differentiate between the two.

Diet and Feeding

During the summer months, insects dominate their diet, while seeds become a more significant food source at other times of the year. They primarily forage in shrubs, low vegetation, and occasionally on the ground.

Conservation status

The Brewer's sparrow has experienced population declines in certain areas of its range. The degradation of sagebrush habitat is suspected to be a contributing factor. While the overall species is currently classified as Least Concern, further research into resource use and limitations during the winter season is crucial for its conservation.