Sage Sparrow

Amphispiza belli

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

16 cm (6") Fairly common. Western United States. Sagebrush, chaparral; in winter deserts.

Dark gray-brown head. White eyebrow stripe or lore spot (between eye and bill). White underparts set off by a black central breast spot. Tail flicking habit.

Often runs with tail held up rather than fly when alarmed.

Song: 4-7 high notes with the 3rd note being highest "tsit, tsit, tsi you, tee a-tee", call is a thin junco-like twittering.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Bannack, MT - May 6, 2002 - 1st regular breeding population known from Montana -

Credit: Caleb Putnam

River Oaks Park in Santa Maria, CA - October 28, 2006

Credit: Jamie Chavez

Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo Co., CA, USA. January 21, 2011

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Jamie Chavez

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Bell's Sparrow [ssp canescens]

Credit: Don DesJardin

Bell's Sparrow

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Distribution maps

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 1 rule

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

Sage Sparrow

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 6

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 ?: Yes · 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 · Has a central spot · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 RING (white or yellow) AROUND the eye · Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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:191-sage-sparrow:1:1 Source: 191 Sage Sparrow, row 1