The olive sparrow is a species of American sparrow in the family Passerellidae. Its range includes Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and southern Texas.
Region
Mesoamerica and southern United States
Typical Environment
Found from south Texas through much of eastern and southern Mexico to Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and locally in Costa Rica. It favors dense thornscrub, brushy thickets, second-growth, and forest edges, often near riparian corridors. In Texas it is closely tied to Tamaulipan thornscrub, while farther south it occupies similar scrub and low woodland undergrowth. The species keeps low in dense cover and rarely enters open grassland or tall forest interiors.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The olive sparrow is the only sparrow regularly found in the United States with uniformly olive upperparts. It is a skulking bird of dense brush, often detected by its bouncing series of clear notes. Pairs typically stay on or near the ground, flicking their tails as they forage. It responds well to pishing and seldom ventures into open habitats.
Temperament
secretive and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct through cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or family groups, keeping to dense understory. Nests are bulky cups placed low in shrubs or tangles; clutches commonly contain 2–4 eggs. Both parents participate in feeding the young, and territories are maintained year-round in much of its range.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, accelerating series of bright notes that often tumble in pitch, delivered from a hidden perch within brush. Calls include sharp chips and thin tseet notes, frequently given while foraging.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a grayish breast and buffy underparts; no wing bars. The face is gray with contrasting rufous-brown crown stripes and subtle facial lines. Feathers appear smooth and plain rather than streaked on the back.
Diet
Feeds on small seeds, insects, and other invertebrates, taking more animal prey during the breeding season. It will also consume small berries and soft fruits when available. Foraging is mostly on or near the ground, with frequent scratching in leaf litter.
Preferred Environment
Dense brush, thornscrub, hedgerows, and tangled forest edges where ground cover is thick. Often forages along paths, openings within scrub, and the base of shrubs.
