The black-throated sparrow is a small New World sparrow primarily found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the only member of the genus Amphispiza; the five-striped sparrow, formerly also classified in Amphispiza, is now thought to be in the monotypic genus Amphispizopsis.
Region
Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Typical Environment
Occurs across the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave deserts, extending into adjacent arid scrub and open chaparral. Prefers open, sparsely vegetated terrain with scattered shrubs such as creosote bush, mesquite, and cactus. Common along dry washes, rocky slopes, and desert flats, and generally avoids dense woodland or lush grassland. Nests are typically placed low in shrubs or cacti, well concealed among spines or dense twigs.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A desert specialist of the southwestern United States and Mexico, the black-throated sparrow thrives in arid scrub with sparse shrubs and open ground. It is known for its crisp black throat and bold white head stripes, which make it easy to identify even at a distance. It conserves water efficiently and often forages during cooler hours, shifting from mostly insects in the breeding season to seeds in fall and winter.
Lost Dutchman State Park
Temperament
alert and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating flights
Social Behavior
Breeds in monogamous pairs, nesting low in shrubs or cacti with 2–4 eggs per clutch. Outside the breeding season it often forms small loose flocks, sometimes mixing with other sparrows. Territorial during nesting, but otherwise tolerant of conspecifics at foraging sites.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Song is a clear, ringing series of short whistled phrases, often delivered from a shrub or low perch. Calls include thin tseet notes and soft chips used to keep contact in open habitats.
Plumage
Clean gray-brown upperparts with pale underparts, highlighted by a sharply defined black throat and upper chest. The head shows two bold white stripes (supercilium and malar) contrasting with gray crown and face. Tail is dark with white outer edges; overall plumage is crisp and uncluttered.
Diet
Consumes small seeds of grasses and forbs, especially outside the breeding season. During spring and summer it adds a high proportion of insects such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, and other arthropods to meet protein demands. Forages mainly on the ground by hopping between open patches and the bases of shrubs, occasionally gleaning from low branches. Adapted to arid conditions, it can obtain much of its water from food.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in open desert flats, along washes, and around scattered shrubs like creosote, mesquite, and cholla. Avoids dense cover, favoring sites with bare ground or sparse litter for efficient ground gleaning.
