Bell's Sparrow

Overview

Bell's sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli) is a species of New World sparrow found in Mexico and the United States. It is a partial migrant that inhabits open shrubby environments and is currently assessed as being of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Measures 12 to 15 cm in length and weighs between 13 and 17 g, with males being larger than females though sharing the same plumage.
• Features a mostly dark gray head and nape, dusky blackish lores with a white patch above them, and a white eye-ring.
• Underparts are mostly white with a small black spot in the centre of the breast, while flanks show a pale brown wash with darker brown streaks.
• Song is described as jumbled, warbled, and buzzy, with individual males possessing several variations, often sung from atop a shrub.

Habitat

The species occupies somewhat open shrubby habitats, frequently dominated by sagebrush. The nominate subspecies is found in coastal chaparral and sagebrush scrublands, whereas other subspecies inhabit desert scrublands containing sagebrush, bitterbrush, and saltbush. Its range extends from northwestern California and Baja California into parts of the American Southwest and Mexico.

Diet

During the breeding season, it feeds on adult and larval insects, spiders, seeds, small fruits, and other plant parts, while shifting to mostly seeds in the non-breeding season. Foraging takes place primarily on the ground under or near shrubs, though the bird may also glean above the ground in vegetation. It hops or walks while foraging and is usually seen in pairs during the breeding season.

Did you know?

The population on San Clemente Island was previously listed as Endangered because introduced pigs and goats had destroyed much of its habitat, but it was delisted in 2023 after the removal of these animals allowed native vegetation to rebound and the bird's population to stabilise and increase.