Orange-billed Sparrow

Overview

The orange-billed sparrow (Arremon aurantiirostris) is a species of New World sparrow found across tropical regions of Mexico, Central and South America. It is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing due to habitat loss.

Identification

• Length of 14.5 to 16.5 cm with a weight of approximately 35 g.
• Distinctive bright orange bill present in all subspecies.
• Sexes are similar in plumage, typically featuring a black crown with a gray median stripe, a wide white supercilium, and a black face.
• Song is generally high-pitched, described as a series of alternating lilting notes, thin whistles, or shrill tinkling sounds that vary geographically.

Habitat

Inhabits the understory of humid primary and secondary evergreen tropical forests, occasionally extending to forest edges, plantations, and gardens. Its distribution is disjunct, ranging from Mexico through Central America to Peru, typically found below 1,300 m elevation.

Diet

Feeds on a mixed diet of insects, spiders, seeds, and fruits. It forages on the ground by scratching in leaf litter or gleaning from low vegetation, usually in pairs or small family groups.

Did you know?

The species exhibits significant geographic variation in its vocalisations, ranging from an "extremely high-pitched series of sharp whistles" in northern Central America to a "series of buzzy notes" in the east.