Spizella
breweri
(Brewer's Sparrow)
Order: Passeriformes
Order Description: Passerines
Family: Emberizidae
Family Description: Blackbirds, Orioles, &
Sparrows
Physical
Description:
5-5 1/2" (13-15 cm). Gray with black
and chestnut edging on feathers above, dark
striping on crown, and a white eyering.
Similar Species- Clay-colored and Vesper
sparrows.
Song:
Dry, buzzy trills on different notes,
descending at the end.
Distribution:
Breeds across portions of western Canada
and southwestern North Dakota, south to southern California, southern Nevada,
central Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico. Winters from portions of southwestern
U.S., south to southern Baja California and central mainland of Mexico.
Habitat:
Usually found in association with sagebrush.
During migration and in winter, also found in desert scrub and creosote bush.
Idaho study found Brewer's Sparrows prefer large, living sagebrush for nesting.
A recent study in southwestern Idaho concluded that their distribution was influenced
by both local vegetation cover and landscape-level features such as patch size.
Diet:
In spring and summer, consumes
insects such as alfalfa weevils, aphids, beet leafhopers, caterpillars, and beetles.
In fall and winter, feeds on seeds. Obtains water from food.
Ecology:
In Idaho, builds cup-shaped nest in sagebrush
between 20 and 50 cm high or in low tree. Forages on ground. May be abundant
in sagebrush habitat (Great Basin and Pacific slopes). In eastern Washington,
as many as 47 pairs have been recorded on 100 ac. Breeding density of 0.08-0.10
individuals/ha has been reported in shadscale habitat in eastern Nevada. Breeding
territory averaged 0.52 ha in Idaho study. During nesting season many males
may sing in chorus at dawn and twilight. Two Idaho studies have indicated nesting
success is quite low. In Great Basin, population density
is usually 150-300/km2,
but may exceed 500/km2 in some cases. Species is one of 7 neotropical migrants
thought to be declining in Idaho.
Reproduction:
Breeding begins in mid-April in southern
range, to May or early June in north. Idaho study found clutch size averaged 3.4 eggs.
Nestlings are altricial.
Conservation:
| Element
Code: |
ABPBX94040 |
| Status: |
Protected
nongame species |
| Global
Rank: |
G5 |
| State
Rank: |
S?,NTMB |
| National
Rank: |
N5B,N5N |
Important State
References:
Peterson, K.L. and L.B. Best.
1985. Brewer's sparrow nest-site characteristics in sagebrush community. J.
Field Ornith. 56:23-27.
Photo by C.Trost,© 1998
Design
by Ean Harker©1999, 2000.
Written by Jason Karl, 2000.