The Oaxaca sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae that is endemic to the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where it lives in dry forests and thornscrub. The population is in slow decline due to habitat loss.
Region
Southern Mexico
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily across dry intermontane valleys and foothill slopes within Oaxaca, especially where thorny scrub and deciduous woodland persist. It uses second-growth scrub, edges of seasonally dry forest, and overgrown fields with scattered shrubs. Birds typically remain close to the ground in dense cover, moving between clumps of bushes and cacti. Riparian thickets in otherwise arid landscapes can also be used when available.
Altitude Range
300–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Oaxaca sparrow is a localized Mexican endemic confined to the state of Oaxaca, where it favors tropical dry forests and thornscrub. It is generally shy and keeps low in dense cover, often detected by its sharp chips before being seen. Habitat loss and degradation from agriculture and grazing are the main threats, and the population is thought to be slowly declining.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights between cover
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs during the breeding season and in small loose groups at other times. Pairs maintain territories in dense scrub and place a cup-shaped nest low in thorny shrubs or grass tussocks. Clutches are small, and both parents attend the young. Post-breeding, birds may join mixed sparrow groups at food-rich spots.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The song is a bright, tinkling series of clear notes and short trills delivered from a low perch inside a shrub. Calls include sharp chips and dry ticking notes, often given in sequence as birds move through cover.
Plumage
Warm brown, lightly streaked upperparts with a grayer face and paler buff underparts; often shows faint dusky mottling on the breast. A crisp whitish supercilium and subtle dark malar lines contrast with the pale throat. Wings and tail are brown with rufous edging and the tail is moderately long.
Diet
Feeds on small seeds of grasses and forbs, supplemented seasonally with insects such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars. During the wet season it takes more arthropods to meet protein demands for breeding. It may also consume small berries or fleshy fruits when available. Foraging typically involves ground-scratching and short hops to glean items from low vegetation.
Preferred Environment
Most often forages on or near the ground under thorny shrubs, along brushy edges, and in weedy clearings. It uses leaf litter and the bases of cacti or shrubs for cover while feeding, emerging briefly to pick seeds from open patches.
