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Black-throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineataOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Breeding Location:

Bushes, shrubs, and thickets, Desert, Desert, semi



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:

Fairly common



Egg Color:

White or light blue



Number of Eggs:

2 - 4



Incubation Days:

12 - 15



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Forbs and dried grasses with lining of rootlets and mammal hair.



Migration:

Northern birds migrate



Splitbar

Overview

Black-throated Sparrow: Medium sparrow, gray-brown upperparts, white underparts, black bib. Head has dark gray cap and sharply contrasting white eyebrow and cheek stripe. Bill is black. Long, round-tipped tail is edged with white. Legs and feet are gray. Forages on the ground and in low vegetation.

Range and Habitat

Black-throated Sparrow: Breeds from northeastern California, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Colorado southward. Spends winters north to the desert regions of the southern U.S. Preferred habitats include deserts and scrublands.

Breeding and Nesting

Black-throated Sparrow: Two to four white or light blue eggs are laid in a loosely built nest made of bark strips, grass, and stems, lined with wool, hair, or feathers, and built in a thorny bush. Incubation ranges from 12 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Black-throated Sparrow: Feeds on seeds during winter and insects during breeding season. Also consumes grass and herbs. Gravel is sometimes ingested to aid in digestion; forages on the ground.

Readily Eats

Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit

Vocalization

Black-throated Sparrow: Song is comprised of two clear notes followed by a buzzing trill.

Similar Species

Black-throated Sparrow: Sage and Five-striped sparrows have white throats.

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Family
Species Amphispiza bilineata
Length5.5 Inches
Wingspan8.5 Inches

Black-throated Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow: Medium sparrow, gray-brown upperparts, white underparts, black bib. Head has dark gray cap and sharply contrasting white eyebrow and cheek stripe. Bill is black. Long, round-tipped tail is edged with white. Legs and feet are gray. Forages on the ground and in low vegetation.

● Song: "queat-queat", "toodle-oodle-oodle"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-throated Sparrow: Feeds on seeds during winter and insects during breeding season. Also consumes grass and herbs. Gravel is sometimes ingested to aid in digestion; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-throated Sparrow: Two to four white or light blue eggs are laid in a loosely built nest made of bark strips, grass, and stems, lined with wool, hair, or feathers, and built in a thorny bush. Incubation ranges from 12 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Black-throated Sparrow: Sage and Five-striped sparrows have white throats.

Flight Pattern

Short flights with rapidly beating wings.
Black-throated Sparrow Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Black-throated Sparrow: Breeds from northeastern California, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Colorado southward. Spends winters north to the desert regions of the southern U.S. Preferred habitats include deserts and scrublands.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationNorthern birds migrate
Weight0.5 Ounces