American tree sparrow

American tree sparrow
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Passerellidae
Genus:	Spizelloides Slager & Klicka, 2014
Species:	S. arborea
Binomial name
Spizelloides arborea (Wilson, 1810)
Range map of Spizelloides arborea   Breeding   Migration   Nonbreeding
Synonyms
Spizella monticola Spizella arborea Passerella arborea

American tree sparrow in Central Park

The American tree sparrow (Spizelloides arborea), also known as the winter sparrow, ^[2] is a medium-sized New World sparrow. It breeds in Alaska and Northern Canada and winters in Southern Canada and the Contiguous United States. It is the only member of the genus Spizelloides.

Taxonomy

The American tree sparrow was originally placed in the genus Spizella . In 2014, it was moved to its own monotypic genus, Spizelloides, based on polyphyly in Spizella and multilocus molecular evidence suggesting the species was strongly divergent from other extant genera. ^{[3] [4]}

Description

The bird's measurements are as follows: ^[5]

• Length: 5.5 in (14 cm)
• Weight: 0.5–1.0 oz (13–28 g)
• Wingspan: 9.4 in (24 cm)

Adults have a rusty cap and grey underparts with a small dark spot on the breast. They have a rusty back with lighter stripes, brown wings with white bars and a slim tail. Their face is grey with a rusty line through the eye. Their flanks are splashed with light brown. They are similar in appearance to the chipping sparrow.

Distribution and habitat

Their breeding habitat is tundra or the northern limits of the boreal forest in Alaska and northern Canada. They nest on the ground. American tree sparrows migrate into southern Canada and the United States to spend the winter.

Diet and behavior

These birds forage on the ground or in low bushes, often in flocks when not nesting. They mainly eat seeds and insects, but also eat some berries. They are commonly seen near feeders with dark-eyed juncos.

Nesting and breeding

American Tree Sparrows typically nest on or near the ground. The nest is composed of fine grasses, feathers, mosses, twigs and strips of bark. ^[6]    

Despite laying one egg per day over a week, the hatching of the chicks is synchronized to within a few hours of each other. Because of this, all the chicks fledge and forage together. ^[7] Breeding pairs do not stay together after the season. ^[8]

Call

This bird's song is a sweet high warble descending in pitch and becoming buzzy near the finish.

References

1. BirdLife International (2021). "Passerella arborea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T22721159A138528295. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22721159A138528295.en . Retrieved 2 October 2022.
2. Sandrock, James; Prior, Jean C. (2014). The Scientific Nomenclature of Birds in the Upper Midwest. Iowa City, IA, US: University of Iowa Press. p. 137. ISBN   978-1-60938-225-4.
3. Slager, David L.; Klicka, John (2014). "A new genus for the American Tree Sparrow (Aves: Passeriformes: Passerellidae)". Zootaxa. 3821 (3): 398–400. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3821.3.9. PMID   24989754.
4. Klicka, J.; Barker, F.K.; Burns, K.J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J.; Chaves, J.A.; Bryson, Jr., R.W. (2014). "A comprehensive multilocus assessment of sparrow (Family Passerellidae) relationships". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 77: 177–182. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.04.025. PMID   24792084.
5. "American Tree Sparrow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
6. "American Tree Sparrow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
7. "American Tree Sparrow Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
8. "American Tree Sparrow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2025-04-23.

Further reading

Book

• Naugler, C. T. 1993. American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea). In The Birds of North America, No. 37. (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.

Thesis

• Heydweiller AM. Ph.D. (1936). LIFE HISTORY OF THE TREE SPARROW, SPIZELLA ARBOREA. Cornell University, United States, New York.
• Naugler CT. M.Sc. (1992). Effects of the acoustic environment on song structure and song recognition in the American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea). Queen's University at Kingston (Canada), Canada.

Articles

• Cusick EK & Wilson FE. (1972). On Control of Spontaneous Testicular Regression in Tree Sparrows Spizella-Arborea. General & Comparative Endocrinology. vol 19, no 3. pp. 441–456.
• Delisle JM & Savidge JA. (1997). Avian use and vegetation characteristics of conservation reserve program fields. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol 61, no 2. pp. 318–325.
• Durairaj G & Martin EW. (1970). Fatty-Acid Composition of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea. American Zoologist. vol 10, no 3.
• Hannah KC. (2005). An apparent case of cooperative hunting in immature Northern Shrikes. Wilson Bulletin. vol 117, no 4. pp. 407–409.
• Helms CW & Smythe RB. (1969). Variation in Major Body Components of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea Sampled within the Winter Range. Wilson Bulletin. vol 81, no 3. pp. 280–292.
• Keiper RR. (1969). Causal Factors of Stereotypies in Caged Birds Serinus-Canarius Serinus-Mozambicus Serinus-Leucopygius Spizella-Arborea Junco-Hyemalis Cyanocitta-Cristata Rearing. Animal Behaviour. vol 17, no 1. pp. 114–119.
• Martin EW. (1968). The Effects of Dietary Protein on the Energy and Nitrogen Balance of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea-Arborea. Physiological Zoology. vol 41, no 3. pp. 313–331.
• Morrison JV & Wilson FE. (1972). Ovarian Growth in Tree Sparrows Spizella-Arborea. Auk. vol 89, no 1. pp. 146–155.
• Paton PWC & Pogson TH. (1996). Relative abundance, migration strategy, and habitat use of birds breeding in Denali National Park, Alaska. Canadian Field-Naturalist. vol 110, no 4. pp. 599–606.
• Stuebe MM & Ketterson ED. (1982). A STUDY OF FASTING IN TREE SPARROWS (SPIZELLA-ARBOREA) AND DARK-EYED JUNCOS (JUNCO-HYEMALIS) - ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. Auk. vol 99, no 2. pp. 299–308.

External links

• American tree sparrow species account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• American tree sparrow - Spizella arborea - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
• "American tree sparrow media". Internet Bird Collection .
• American tree sparrow photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
• Interactive range map of Spizella arborea at IUCN Red List