Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melospiza ("song finch") lincolnii (Thomas Lincoln, a friend of Audobon)

Adult Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Melospiza lincolnii gracilis
Weight: 17-19g/kg  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 19-22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A somewhat more timid member of the New World Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrow favour more mountainous and boggy habitats where they are primarily ground feeding. They winter in the Southern US and Mexico. Thomas Lincoln for whom they are named, shot a bird in Nova Scotia, which he presented to his friend James Audobon who named it after him.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Melospiza
SUBSPECIES: M. l. lincolnii, M. l. gracilis, M. l. alticola
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska, Rockies and inland on the West Coast States, Winters on West Coast and Southern Saates 
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

OTHER NAMES: Andean Sparrow
Latin Etymology:  Zonotrichia ("band hair") capensis ("Cape of Good Hope" - erroneously)

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis
Weight: 20-25g  /  Length: 13.5-15cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distrubted new world sparrow whose range covers most of South America except much of the basins or the Amazon and Orinoco as well as upland pockets of Central America. They prefer highlands, hence the alternative name "Andean Sparrow" as they are found through much of that mountain range. However, despite that, the geographically isolated populations of Costa Rica and other Central American highlands are among the commest birds at their preferred altitudes.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Zonotrichia
SUBSPECIES: Z. c. septentrionalis, Z. c. antillarum, Z. c. costaricensis, Z. c. insularis, Z. c. venezuelae, Z. c. roraimae, Z. c. inaccessibilis, Z. c. perezchinchillorum, Z. c. macconelli, Z. c. capensis, Z. c. tocantinsi, Z. c. novaesi, Z. c. matutina, Z. c. huancabambae, Z. c. illescasensis, Z. c. peruviensis, Z. c. carabayae, Z. c. pulacayensis, Z. c. subtorquata, Z. c. mellea, Z. c. hypoleuca, Z. c. antofagastae, Z. c. chilensis, Z. c. sanborni, Z. c. arenalensis, Z. c. choraules, Z. c. australis

 

- Sighting Locations -
 
COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - comemaíz ("corn eater")
Locally common at higher altitudes
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

OTHER NAMES: Rufous-sided Towhee, Oregon Towhee 
Latin Etymology: Pipilo ("to cheep") maculatus ("spotted") 

Adult male Spotted Towhee (subspecies P. m. falcifer) at Roy's Redwoods, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Pipilo maculatus falcifer
Weight: 33g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: 28cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A distinctively patterned bird, the Spotted Towhee is a bird of upland forest and scrub - they are closely related to the similar looking Eastern Towhee, with which it was formerly considered a single species. Given their favoured habitat, their colonisation of an area tends to follow regrowth after fires, which means that smaller scrubland can re-establish for a while.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Pipilo
SUBSPECIES: P. m. oregonus,  P. m. falcifer,  P. m. megalonyx, P. m. clementae, P. m. umbraticola, P. m. consobrinus, P. m. arcticus, P. m. curtatus, P. m. falcinellus, P. m. monatus, P. m. gaigei, P. m. griseipygius, P. m. orientalis, P. m. maculatus, P. m. sympatricus, P. m. vulcanorum, P. m. oaxacae, P. m. chiapensis, P. m. repetens, P. m. macronyx, P. m. socorroensis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in much of the Western Unted States
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP:  Seen at Roy's Redwoods

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Passerculus ("small sparrow") sandwichensis ("of Sandwich, Unalaska")

Adult Savannah Sparrow (subspecies P. s. alaudinus) at Monterey, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus
Weight: 15-29g  /  Length: 11-15cm  /  Wingspan: 18-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small neat sparrow distinguished by it's pale golden supercilium, they are found across the entirity of the Lower 48 and Alaska. Despite the fact they are indeed found in grassland, the name actually doesn't refer to that, but rather to the city of Savannah, Georgia, where this species was first described from to Western Science.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Passerculus
SUBSPECIES: P. s. oblitus, P. s. mediogriseus, P. s. labadorius, P. s. savanna, P. s. princeps, P. s. anthinus, P. s. sandwichensis, P. s. crassus, P. s. brooksi, P. s. alaudinus, P. s. nevadensis, P. s. rufofuscus, P. s. brunnescens, P. s. wetmorei, P. s. beldingi, P. s. anulus, P. s. guttatus, P. s. magdalenae, P. s. sanctorum, P. s. rostratus, P. s. atratus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Breeds in Alaska and Northern States of the Lower 48, Winters in Southern States. Resident in Central and Southern Coastal California
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley and  Monterey

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)

OTHER NAMES: Brown Towhee
Latin Etymology: Melozone ("cheek belt") crissalis ("of the vent")

Adult California Towhee (subspecies M. c. petulans) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Melozone crissalis petulans
Weight: 46-61g  /  Length: 20-25cm  /  Wingspan: 29cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A bird found almost exclusively in California and the Baha California Penninsula, it is a member of the New World Sparrows, but by the typical image of that group its body is elongated and it's stance more-thrushlike, though it retains a seed-eaters thick beak.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Melozone
SUBSPECIES: M. c. bullata, M. c. carolae, M. c. petulans, M. c. crissalis, M. c. eremophilia, M. c. senicula, M. c. aripolia, M. c. albigula

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Largely endemic to California within the US, with one population in Southern Oregon
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melospiza ("song finch") melodia ("singing")

Adult male Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) at Hayward, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Unclear
Weight: 11-53g  /  Length: 11-18cm  /  Wingspan: 18-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

When I first heard this species singing, I understood why it is named the Song Sparrow - compared to other seed "finch like" birds it is very melodic and clear. Is is also a species with a huge array of subspecies which seem to adapt readily to different habitats - there are multiple endemic subspecies in California alone!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Melospiza
SUBSPECIES: M. m. melodia, M. m.atlantica, M. m.maxima, M. m.sanaka, M. m.insignis, M. m.kenaiensis, M. m. caurina, M. m.rufina, M. m. morphna, M. m. merrilli, M. m. montana, M. m. cleonensis, M. m.gouldii, M. m.maxillaris, M. m. heermanni, M. m.graminea, M. m. samuelis, M. m. pusillula, M. m. fallax, M. m. rivularis, M. m. goldmani, M. m. mexicana, M. m. villai, M. m. adusta, M. m. zacapu

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found at different times of the year through every state except Hawai'i
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose, Berkeley and Hayward  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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