Pl. LIV


The Birds · Plate LIV
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Passerellidae · Taxon 9152
| Length | 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 19–22 cm (7.5–8.7 in) |
| Weight | 11–15 g (0.4–0.5 oz) |
Field marks
- Small, slender sparrow with a rounded head and relatively long tail
- Pale gray face with a crisp white eye-ring
- Warm rufous crown and rufous line behind the eye
- Short, conical pink bill; legs are pinkish
- Brown, black-streaked back with two faint pale wingbars
- Pale gray-buff underparts and a subtly notched tail
HabitatOpen, early-successional country: grassy old fields, pastures, brushy edges, fencerows, and woodland openings with scattered shrubs or small trees for perches.
BehaviorForages mainly on or near the ground for small seeds and insects; often uses low shrubs or other exposed perches.
Palette
pale grayrufous brownwarm buffwhitepink