Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata

Compiled by Lisa S. Graham.

The Black-throated Sparrow is a classic songbird of the desert — perfectly at home among sagebrush, creosote, and rocky washes. If your backyard includes mesquite, yucca, or native scrubland, you might see this little bird pause on a low branch or fencepost and deliver its clear, whistled song.  I saw my first one on a trip to Big Bend, and it was worth the miles put in to get there.

Compact and pale, the Black-throated Sparrow measures about 4.5–5.5 inches long. Its most notable field marks are the clean black throat and upper breast set against a bright white belly, and two thin white brow lines framing their face. Their back and wings are a warm gray-brown, and the tail is relatively long and narrow — perfect for camouflage in arid, open country.  Juveniles are duller and lack the stark black throat, gaining full adult plumage as they mature.

The Black-throated Sparrow is often seen perched on shrubs, fence posts, or cactus, scanning for seeds and insects. Its diet shifts the seasons change: seeds, legumes, and native grasses in winter, and insects and spiders during the breeding season when feeding their young.  They tend to forage on or near the ground, flicking through leaf litter and low vegetation.  You’ll mostly see them alone or in pairs rather than in large flocks, though they will mix with other species at reliable water sources.  Its voice is a defining trait: a series of sweet, twinkling whistles and short trills. Male song is used to declare territory and attract mates, often delivered from an open perch.

Breeding occurs in spring and early summer, with both the male and female working together to build a bulky cup nest of grasses, rootlets, and plant fibers, typically tucked into a low shrub, cactus, or sheltered crevice.  Clutches contain 3–5 eggs, with both parents feeding the nestlings.  Juveniles may linger near the territory as they practice foraging and flying.  Reproduction coincides with insect abundance in the warmer months, which helps the young grow quickly.

Small, handsome, and well-adapted to a harsh environment, the Black-throated Sparrow is a signature sound of our beloved Southwest. If you’re traveling through desert country, listen for its delicate whistles and scan low bushes and cactus for glimpse.

A couple of fun facts about Black-throated Sparrows:

• During nest construction and egg laying, the male holds a large territory. After incubation begins, the males reacts less to intruders.
• They can survive for long periods without water – they get moisture from their food, and their kidneys are extra-efficient at retaining moisture.
• If you have a housecat, keep it indoors regardless, but especially if there are black-throated sparrows around – their ground-nesting makes them especially vulnerable. Catios are a perfect solution.

Sources include All About Birds (Cornell) and Audubon Field Guide.
Photo credit:  Adam Jackson, Macaulay Library.