Spizella breweri
The Brewer's Sparrow, a subtle gem of western North America's arid shrublands, is a small, slender sparrow measuring typically 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of 18-20 cm (7-8 inches) and weighing 9-13 grams. Its plumage is a masterclass in cryptic camouflage, featuring fine brown streaking on a buffy-gray back and crown, unstreaked pale underparts, and a distinct, yet subdued, white eye-ring on an otherwise plain face. This unassuming appearance, combined with its prefere...
Found primarily in arid and semi-arid shrublands, particularly sagebrush steppe, as well as pinyon-juniper woodlands and open conifer forests, typically ranging from sea level to over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) in mountainous areas.
Primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, consuming caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders; shifts to a diet dominated by grass and weed seeds in fall and winter, often gleaning them from the ground or directly from plants.
Brewer's Sparrows are primarily diurnal, often foraging quietly on the ground or within the dense cover of shrubs, especially sagebrush, for insects and seeds. Males establish territories upon arrival at breeding grounds, defending them with their distinctive, long, buzzy trilling songs delivered...
The Brewer's Sparrow breeds across a vast area of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada, south through much of the western United States. Its breeding range includes states such as Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, ...
Least Concern
- The Brewer's Sparrow's song is often described as one of the most ethereal and complex among North American sparrows, a series of buzzy trills that can sound surprisingly mechanical or insect-like. - They are considered a "sagebrush obligate" species, meaning their populations are highly depend...