EMBERIZIDAE of North America
The Emberizidae family includes buntings, juncos, New World sparrows, and towhees. The majority of these birds live in the New World where the family probably originated. They are small seed-eaters with a finch-like bill. In addition to seeds they also eat insects, especially when feeding their young. They build cup-shaped nests.
New World Sparrows
Order Passeriformes Family Emberizidae
The sparrows on this page belong to the Emberizidae family. These sparrows are found in the New World. There are also birds called sparrows in the Passeridae family. In particular, the house sparrow has been introduced throughout much of the world.
Genus Aimophila
Sparrow, Oaxaca Aimophila notosticta Found: North America (Mexico)
Photographed by: 1) Dominic Sherony - Mexico
Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Aimophila ruficeps Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) Francesco Veronesi - Texas 2) JN Stuart - Nevada 3) Bill Bouton - California
Sparrow, Rusty Aimophila rufescens Found: North America (Mexico), Central America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Jerry Oldenettel - Belize
Genus Ammodramus
Sparrow, Baird's Ammodramus bairdii Found: North America
Similar to: Grasshopper Sparrow. Viewed from the side these two species are quite similar, but the breast of a mature Baird's Sparrow has some stripes while a Grasshopper Sparrow's breast is plain.
Sparrow, Grasshopper Ammodramus savannarum Found: North America
Similar to: Baird's Sparrow. Viewed from the side these two species are quite similar, but the breast of a mature Baird's Sparrow has some stripes while a Grasshopper Sparrow's breast is plain.
Sparrow, Henslow's Ammodramus henslowii Found: North America
Similar to: Le Conte's Sparrow. Henslow's Sparrow adults have streaked brown upperparts with a light brown breast with streaks, a white belly and a white throat. They have a pale stripe on the crown with a dark stripe on each side, an olive face and neck, rust-coloured wings and a short dark forked tail.
Sparrow, Le Conte's Ammodramus leconteii Found: North America
Similar to: Henslow's Sparrow. Le Conte's Sparrow has gray bill, buffy orange-yellow breast, off-white belly, dark brown crown with a white central stripe, back streaked with brown and beige.
Sparrow, Nelson's Ammodramus nelsoni Found: North America (Atlantic coast)
Similar to: Saltmarsh Sparrow. Nelson's Sparrow has blurry stripes on breast.
Sparrow, Saltmarsh Ammodramus caudacutus Found: North America (Atlantic coast)
Similar to: Nelson's Sparrow. Saltmarsh Sparrow has distinct stripes on breast.
Sparrow, Seaside Ammodramus maritimus Found: North America
Similar to: Nelson's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow. Seaside Sparrow has yellow above and in front of eye.
3) Joseph Pescatore - New Jersey 4) Jeff Whitlock - Texas 5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
1) Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus m. mirabilis) 2) Dusky Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus m. nigrescens. Now extinct.
Sparrow, Yellow-browed Ammodramus aurifrons Found: South America
Photographed by Charlie Westerinen - Iquitos, Peru
Genus Amphispiza
Sparrow, Black-throated Amphispiza bilineata Found: North America, northern South America
Similar to: Five-striped Sparrow, Sage Sparrow. Black-throated Sparrow distinguished by its black throat.
2) Elaine R Wilson Visitor's Center, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
3) Dick Daniels - Arizona 4) Dick - Arizona 5) Charlie Westerinen - "Hole in the Wall ", Utah 6) Kevin Cole
Sparrow, Five-striped Amphispiza quinquestriata Found: Southwest United States, Mexico
Similar to: Black-throated Sparrow, Sage Sparrow. Five-striped Sparrow has a dark gray breast, white belly, dark spot on its gray-white border.
Sparrow, Sage Amphispiza belli Found: North America (southwest desert)
Similar to: Black-throated Sparrow, Five-striped Sparrow. Sage Sparrow has a white eye-ring, white throat, dark spot on white breast.
4) Dominic Sherony 5) Linda Tanner 6) Maggie Smith
4) Subspecies nevadensis, the most common
Genus Arremonops
Sparrow, Olive Arremonops rufivirgatus Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Alan D. Wilson - Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas 2) Bill Bouton - Texas 3) Jerry Oldenettel - Texas
Genus Chondestes - 1 species
Sparrow, Lark Chondestes grammacus Found: North America, Europe
Photographed by: 1) Alan D. Wilson - Arizona 2) Len Blumin - California 3) Kat and Sam - Oregon 4) Teddy Llovet
Genus Melospiza
Sparrow, Lincoln's Melospiza lincolnii Found: North America
Similar to: Song Sparrow. Lincoln's Sparrow has a thin grey crown stripe, thinly streaked light brown breast, white belly, brown line through the eye, eye-ring, Some have a dark breast spot. The tail is shorter than a Song Sparrow and they are much more shy than a Song Sparrow.
4) Kelly Colgan Azar 5) Linda Tanner - California
1) Juvenile
Sparrow, Song Melospiza melodia Found: North America
Similar to: Lincoln's Sparrow. The Song Sparrow is very varied, approximately 30 subspecies. They have thick dark streaks on breast, gray face, line through the eye, eye-ring, Some have a dark breast spot. They are named for the male's melodious singing which they often perform while conspicuosly perched.
4) Ken Schneider - Illinois 5) Eugene Beckes 6, 7) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 8) Dick - Maine 9, 10) Dick - California
1) Aleutian
Sparrow, Swamp Melospiza georgiana Found: North America
Photographed by:1) Dick Daniels - the Washington National Zoo 2) Keenan Adams, USFWS
3) Ken Schneider - Illinios 4) Laura Gooch
Sparrow, Coastal Plain Swamp Melospiza georgiana Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - the Washington National Zoo 2) Pauls95Blazer
This is a subspecies of the Swamp Sparrow that lives in saltwater marshes along the milddle Atlantic states.
Genus Passerculus - 1 species
Sparrow, Savannah Passerculus sandwichensis Found: North America and South America
Similar to: Nelson's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow. The Savannah Sparrow has many variations. They all have a narrow whitish crown stripe and a white throat. Most have a yellow stripe above and in front of the eye.
5) Donna Dewhurst,USFWS - Alaska 6) Mike Baird - California 7) Dick Daniels - Assateague, Virginia 8) Matt Tillett - Delaware
9, 10) John B. - Rhode Island (Ipswich) 11) USFWS - California (Belding's)
9, 10) Ipswich Savannah Sparrow 11) Belding's Savannah Sparrow
Genus Passerella - 1 species
Sparrow, Fox Passerella iliaca Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) Alan D. Wilson - Black Creek, Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia 4) Stubblefield Photography
2) Elaine R. Wilson - Black Creek, British Columbia 3) Mdf - Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Genus Peucaea
These sparrows were formerly in genus Aimophila
Sparrow, Bachman's Peucaea aestivalis (formerly Aimophila aestivalis) Found:Southeastern United States
Similar to: Botteri's Sparrow. The range does not overlap.
Sparrow, Botteri's Peucaea botterii (formerly Aimophila botterii ) Found: North America (the southwest)
Similar to: Bachman's Sparrow. The range does not overlap.
Similar to: Cassin's Sparrow. Botteri's Sparrow has irregular white around eye, Cassin's Sparrow has pale eye-ring. Cassin's Sparrow has finely streaked crown and an indistinct pattern on the back.
Similar to: Cassin's Sparrow. Botteri's Sparrow has irregular white around eye, Cassin's Sparrow has pale eye-ring. Cassin's Sparrow has finely streaked crown and an indistinct pattern on the back.
Sparrow, Cassin's Peucaea cassinii Found: North America
Similar to: Botteri's Sparrow. Botteri's Sparrow has irregular white around eye, Cassin's Sparrow has pale eye-ring. Cassin's Sparrow has finely streaked crown and an indistinct pattern on the back.
Sparrow, Rufous-winged Peucaea carpalis (formerly Aimophila carpalis ) Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexica 2) Dominic Sherony 3) Len Blumin - Pima County, Arizona
Genus Pooecete - 1 species
Sparrow, Vesper Pooecetes gramineus Found: North America
Similar to: Savannah Sparrow. Vesper Sparrow has a white eye-ring, white throat, off-white belly.
3) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico 4) Ken Schneider - Illinois 5) Bob Pruner
Genus Spizella
Sparrow, American Tree Spizella arborea Found: North America
Similar to: Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow. American Tree Sparrow has a dark spot in the middle of chest, bicolored bill, stripe through eye, light eyebrow.
3) Kelly Colgan Azar 4) Factumquintus - Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Sparrow, Black-chinned Spizella atrogularis Found: The Americas
Similar to: none. Black-chinned Sparrow has gray head and underpats. The adult male has black around base of bill. Back is rusty brown with black smudges.
1, 2, 3) Male
Sparrow, Brewer's Spizella breweri Found: North America
Similar to: Clay-colored Sparrow. Brewer's Sparrow has a brown crown, lacks crown stripe, pale gray to off-white line over the eye, thin white eye-ring, pale gray underparts, notched tail.
Sparrow, Chipping Spizella passerina Found: North America
Similar to: American Tree Sparrow, Field Sparrow. Chipping Sparrow has light breast, pinkish bill, stripe through eye, white/light eyebrow
_RWD.jpg){kind=link}
Sparrow, Clay-colored Spizella pallida Found: North America
Similar to: Brewer's Sparrow. Clay-colored Sparrow has a dark brown crown, light crown stripe, white line over the eye, white throat, clay-colored underparts, notched tail.
Sparrow, Field Spizella pusilla Found: North America
Similar to: American Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow. Field Sparrow has rusty cown, white eye-ring, pink bill.
Genus Zonotrichia
Sparrow, Golden-crowned Zonotrichia atricapilla Found: North America
Photographed by: 1 Alan Vernon 2) Alexandra MacKenzie 3) Lucina M
4) Rick Leche 5) Gary Kramer 6) Dick Daniels - Hatcher Pass, Alaska
1) Juvenile 3) Nonbreeding 4, 5, 6) Breeding
Sparrow,_Harris's Zonotrichia querula Found: North America
Photographed/Drawn by: 1) Norm Townsend 2) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico 3) Tom Smith - Oklahoma
4) Greg Schechter - California 5) Blake Maybank - California 6) Julio Mulero - California
1) Juvenile 2) Nonbreeding 3) Eclipse 4, 5, 6) Breeding
Sparrow, Rufous-collared Zonotrichia capensis Found: North America (Mexico), South America
Photographed by: 1) dFaulder at Costanera Sur Nature Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2, 3) Dario Sanches - Brazil
Sparrow, White-crowned Zonotrichia leucophrys Found: North America
Similar to: White-throated Sparrow. The White-crowned Sparrow doe not have a white throat or yellow lores.
2) Alan D. Wilson - Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Near San Antonio, New Mexico
3, 4, 6) Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California 5) Dick - Half Moon Bay
Sparrow, White-throated Zonotrichia albicollis Found: North America
Similar to: White-crowned Sparrow. The White-throated Sparrow has white throat, yellow lores.
4) Dick Daniels - Maine 5, 6) Becky Gregory- Virginia tan morph
6) Tan morph
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.