Rufous-crowned sparrow Aimophila ruficeps

Identification Tips:

• Length: 5.25 inches
• Yellowish, conical bill
• Rusty crown
• Grayish face and supercilium
• Brown streak extends behind eye
• Thick black malar streak
• Brown back with darker streaks
• Brown wings
• Underparts gray
• Long, brown tail
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile (Spring to Fall) has brown crown and diffuse streaks on breast and flanks

Similar species:

The Rufous-winged Sparrow can be told from the Rufous-crowned Sparrow by its rusty shoulder, paler underparts, thinner malar streak and different song. Other sparrows with rusty crowns (Chipping, Field, American Tree) are smaller, lack the dark malar streak and have wing bars.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.