The overall color of Black-chinned Sparrows is gray, with brown backs and wings. Females and non-breeding males don’t have a black patch on their throat, whereas males do. Pink bills contrast with their black heads, making them easier to identify.
- Spizella atrogularis
- Length: 15 cm (5.75 in)
- Weight: 11 g (0.4 oz)
- Wingspan: 23 cm (9 in)
Range
Black-chinned Sparrows migrate to Mexico for the winter after breeding in southwestern US states.
Habitat And Diet
In arid, desert-like settings, you may spot Black-chinned Sparrows. They prefer to reside amid sagebrush, pine-juniper vegetation, and other brushes and scrubbers in remote and rocky areas. In the winter, they may travel south of their breeding sites, usually to lower altitudes.
Nests
Black-chinned Sparrow nests are made inside a thicket and may be discovered at the ground level. They’re stuffed with hair and feathers to make them feel soft. They’re made of grass, weeds, rootlets, and yucca fibers. Each nest can have up to five eggs, and they take around a week to hatch. Their parents continue to care for them until they learn to fly, which can take up to fifteen days.
Fun Fact:
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects Black-chinned Sparrows as a protected species. Their nests are extremely vulnerable to predation, and their habitat is under threat.