The Four Keys to ID
- Size & Shape
A small songbird (but rather large for a sparrow), with a flat head, a heavy bill, and a rather long tail.
Relative Size
Larger than a Chipping Sparrow, smaller than a White-throated Sparrow.
sparrow-sized or smallerMeasurements
- Both Sexes
- Length: 5.9-6.7 in (15-17 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (17-26 g)
- Wingspan: 8.7 in (22 cm)
- Color Pattern
- Behavior
- Habitat
Regional Differences
Ornithologists recognize up to 9 subspecies, 2 of which breed in the United States: the more reddish arizonae in desert grassland of southeastern Arizona, and the grayer texana in coastal prairie of southern Texas.