Artemisiospiza belli
The Bell's Sparrow (*Artemisiospiza belli*) is a small, enigmatic New World sparrow, perfectly camouflaged for its arid scrub habitat in western North America. Measuring 12.5-15 cm (5-6 inches) in length with a wingspan of approximately 19-22 cm (7.5-8.5 inches), it features a drab grayish-brown back streaked with darker tones, a plain whitish to pale gray belly, and no prominent wing bars. Key identification marks include a distinct dark lateral throat stripe, a crisp white eye-ring encircli...
This species primarily inhabits arid scrublands, chaparral, and coastal sage scrub, typically at low to mid-elevations from sea level up to 2500 meters. It thrives in dense, shrubby vegetation, often interspersed with open ground.
Their diet consists mainly of insects and other arthropods during the breeding season, supplemented heavily by seeds from various grasses and forbs, particularly in the non-breeding months. They primarily forage by gleaning from low vegetation and scratching on the ground.
Bell's Sparrows are primarily diurnal, often most active during dawn and dusk, and are remarkably secretive, preferring to skulk and run through dense vegetation rather than fly. They forage primarily on the ground, hopping, scratching with their feet, and gleaning insects and seeds from low shru...
The Bell's Sparrow is primarily found in the chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and arid scrublands of California and Baja California. Its breeding range encompasses much of coastal California, extending into the Sierra Nevada foothills and throughout southern California, including the Channel Island...
Least Concern
- The Bell's Sparrow was named in honor of John Graham Bell, a taxidermist and collector who accompanied John James Audubon on an expedition up the Missouri River in 1843. - Until 2013, the Bell's Sparrow was considered conspecific with the Sagebrush Sparrow (*Artemisiospiza nevadensis*); they we...