Five-striped Sparrow Photo Gallery

A large sparrow with five alternating white and black stripes below a thick bill, and an additional white stripe over the eye. Underparts are mostly gray and white, with a large black central breast spot. Upperparts are reddish brown.

A boldly marked sparrow with a white stripe over the eye, a thin white crescent below the eye, and five white/black stripes below the bill. A white belly contrasts with gray flanks and a large black spot on the breast.

Adult

A large sparrow with five white and black stripes spanning the throat. Upperparts are rich reddish-brown and flanks are dark gray. A black breast spot and white belly are just partially visible in this video.

Rich reddish-brown upperparts contrast with dark gray flanks.

Long, heavy bill is blackish above and silvery below.

Adult male

Male sings a variety of short, simple songs from perches as well as the ground.

Occurs almost entirely in northwestern Mexico, but breeds annually in very small numbers in southeastern Arizona.

Both sexes give a chatter call while foraging on or near the ground.

Adult

Typically stays close to, or on the ground, where it forages for caterpillars and other insects.

In Arizona, nesting begins with the start of summer rains.

Breeds on steep, dry hillsides with thick vegetation.