American Sparrows found in the Americas are members of the Emberizidae Family of sparrows.
American sparrows are similar in both appearance and habit to finches.
They are not always the same species as the Old World Sparrows. For further information on sparrow species click the link.
Description
American Sparrows are seed-eating birds with conical bills, The plumage is mostly in shades of brown or grey and many species have distinctive head patterns.
Species in taxonomic order
Genus Arremon
- Orange-billed Sparrow, Arremon aurantiirostris
- Pectoral Sparrow, Arremon taciturnus
- Half-collared Sparrow, Arremon semitorquatus
- Golden-winged Sparrow, Arremon schlegeli
- Black-capped Sparrow, Arremon abeillei
- Saffron-billed Sparrow, Arremon flavirostris
- Chestnut-capped Brush Finch, Arremon brunneinucha
Genus Arremonops
- Olive Sparrow, Arremonops rufivirgatus
- Tocuyo Sparrow, Arremonops tocuyensis
- Green-backed Sparrow, Arremonops chloronotus
- Black-striped Sparrow, Arremonops conirostris
Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, Melozone kieneri- Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow, Melozone biarcuatum
- White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Melozone leucotis
Genus Pipilo
- Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
- Collared Towhee, Pipilo ocai
- Socorro Towhee, Pipilo socorroensis
- Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
- Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
- California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis
- Canyon Towhee, Pipilo fuscus
- Abert’s Towhee, Pipilo aberti
- White-throated Towhee, Pipilo albicollis
Genus Aimophila
- Bridled Sparrow, Aimophila mystacalis
- Black-chested Sparrow, Aimophila humeralis
- Stripe-headed Sparrow, Aimophila ruficauda
- Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, Aimophila sumichrasti
- Stripe-capped Sparrow, Aimophila strigiceps
- Tumbes Sparrow, Aimophila stolzmanni
- Bachman’s Sparrow, Aimophila aestivalis
- Botteri’s Sparrow, Aimophila botterii : A medium-sized sparrow found primarily in Mexico, with a breeding range that extends to the southeastern tip of Arizona. Small populations can be found in the southern-most tip of Texas
- Cassin’s Sparrow, Aimophila cassinii
- Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps
- Rufous-winged Sparrow, Aimophila carpalis
- Five-striped Sparrow, Aimophila quinquestriata : A medium-sized sparrow. This passerine bird is primarily found along the Pacific coast region of mainland Mexico, with a breeding range that extends into the southern tip of the U.S. state of Arizona. This species is a regular victim of cowbird nest parasites.
- Oaxaca Sparrow, Aimophila notosticta
- Rusty Sparrow, Aimophila rufescens
- Striped Sparrow, Oriturus superciliosus
- Zapata Sparrow, Torreornis inexpectata
Genus Spizella
- American Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea
- Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
- Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
- Brewer’s Sparrow, Spizella breweri
- Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla
- Worthen’s Sparrow, Spizella wortheni
- Black-chinned Sparrow, Spizella atrogularis
- Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
- Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
Genus Amphispiza
- Black-throated Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata
- Sage Sparrow, Amphispiza belli
- Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys
- Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
Genus Ammodramus
- Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus
- Nelson’s Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni
- Saltmarsh Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus
- Le Conte’s Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii
- Henslow’s Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii
- Baird’s Sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii
- Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
- Grassland Sparrow, Ammodramus humeralis
- Yellow-browed Sparrow, Ammodramus aurifrons
- Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca
- Sierra Madre Sparrow, Xenospiza baileyi
Genus Melospiza
- Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
- Lincoln’s Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
- Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
Genus Zonotrichia
- White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
- White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
- Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
- Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis
- Harris’s Sparrow, Zonotrichia querula
Genus Junco
- Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
- Yellow-eyed Junco, Junco phaeonotus
- Guadalupe Junco, Junco insularis
- Volcano Junco, Junco vulcani
