Black-throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata

Also known as:Desert Sparrow

Explore this bird

Identification

14 cm (5-6") Fairly common. Western United States. Deserts, cactus, sage, mesquite.

Unstreaked grayish-brown back. Jet black throat and breast. White belly. White eyebrow stripe.

Song: 2 clear whistled notes followed by a trill.

Details in the field

5 photos

Credit: Ron Knight

Credit: Patrick Coin

Credit: Lon&Queta

Watch and learn

2 videos

Black throated Sparrow

Credit: Larry Bond

Black-throated Sparrow

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 5

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:188-black-throated-sparrow:1:1 Source: 188 Black-throated Sparrow, row 1

Rule 2 17 criteria confidence 1

What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:188-black-throated-sparrow:2:1 Source: 188 Black-throated Sparrow, row 2