Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Aimophila ruficeps

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About the Rufous-crowned Sparrow

The rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) is a small American sparrow. This passerine is primarily found across the Southwestern United States and much of the interior of Mexico, south to the transverse mountain range, and to the Pacific coast to the southwest of the transverse range. Its distribution is patchy, with populations often being isolated from each other. Twelve subspecies are generally recognized, though up to eighteen have been suggested. This bird has a brown back with darker streaks and gray underparts. The crown is rufous, and the face and supercilium are gray with a brown or rufous streak extending from each eye and a thick black malar streak. These sparrows feed primarily on seeds in the winter and insects in the spring and summer.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Aimophila ruficeps
Family: New World Sparrows
Order: Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the new world sparrows family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

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