Quantcast

Cassin's Sparrow

Aimophila cassiniiOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Cassin's Sparrow Portrait
  Copyright 2002-2007 Whatbird.com
Click here for licensing information Splitbar

General

Cassin's Sparrow: Medium-sized, skulking grassland sparrow with fine brown streaks on gray-brown head and back, and buff underparts. Tail is long, rounded, and white-tipped. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has streaked underparts.

Range and Habitat

Cassin's Sparrow: Breeds from southern Arizona and southwestern Kansas south to southern New Mexico and western and southern Texas; also in Mexico. Spends winters in southern part of breeding range. Preferred habitats include semi-desert or arid uplands supporting yuccas and tall grass.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"pit-pit-pit-pit"

Interesting Facts

  • The male Cassin's Sparrow flies straight up in his display flight and then floats downward on fixed wings, singing the entire time. This behavior, distinctive among sparrows, is sometimes called "skylarking."
  • Their population numbers vary widely in response to summer rainfall. In some years singing males appear at the edge of their range where none usually breed. What causes these movements is unknown, but hypotheses include east-to-west migration, dispersal of birds that were unsuccessful breeding in another area, and nomadism.
  • They have an unusual molt cycle. The juvenile molts twice in the first six months of life whereas the adult has a long body molt lasting several months, then a much quicker complete molt in fall.
  • A group of sparrows has many collective nouns, including a "crew", "flutter", "meinie", "quarrel", and "ubiquity" of sparrows.


Author

Gary Owen Dick

Splitbar
Range Map for Cassin's Sparrow
.
Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007  Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
 Privacy Policy.
Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Aimophila cassinii
Length6 Inches
Wingspan9 Inches

Cassin's Sparrow

Cassin's Sparrow: Medium, skulking grassland sparrow, fine brown streaks on gray-brown head and back, buff underparts. Tail is long, rounded, white-tipped. Legs, feet are pink-orange. Forages by scratching on the ground. Short flight, alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Song: "pit-pit-pit-pit"

● Foraging & Feeding: Cassin's Sparrow: Diet consists of beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and seeds; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Cassin's Sparrow: Three to five white eggs are laid in a deep, almost tunnel-like cup built on the ground or at the base of a bush or cactus. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Cassin's Sparrow: Botteri's Sparrow has a different song, a somewhat larger bill, and a flatter head. Bachman's Sparrow has a different range and song.

Flight Pattern

Short flights with rapid wing beats.
Cassin's Sparrow Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Cassin's Sparrow: Breeds from southern Arizona and southwestern Kansas south to southern New Mexico and western and southern Texas; also in Mexico. Spends winters in southern part of breeding range. Preferred habitats include semi-desert or arid uplands supporting yuccas and tall grass.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.7 Ounces