New World sparrow

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New World sparrow
White-crowned-Sparrow.jpg
White-crowned sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Superfamily: Emberizoidea
Family: Passerellidae
Cabanis, 1851
Genera

See text

New World sparrows are a group of mainly New World passerine birds, forming the family Passerellidae. They are seed-eating birds with conical bills, brown or gray in color, and many species have distinctive head patterns.

Contents

Although they share the name sparrow, New World sparrows are more closely related to Old World buntings than they are to the Old World sparrows (family Passeridae). New World sparrows are also similar in both appearance and habit to finches, with which they sometimes used to be classified.

Taxonomy

The genera now assigned to the family Passerellidae were previously included with the buntings in the family Emberizidae. A phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences published in 2015 found that the Passerellidae formed a monophyletic group that had an uncertain relationship to the Emberizidae. [1] Emberizidae was therefore split and the family Passerellidae resurrected. [2] [3] It had originally been introduced, as the subfamily Passerellinae, by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1851. [4]

The International Ornithological Congress (IOC) recognizes 138 species in the family, distributed among these 30 genera. For more detail, see list of New World sparrow species. [5]

Passerellidae

Below is a phylogeny based on a 2016 study by Robert Bryson and colleagues. [6] [lower-alpha 1]

Passerellidae

Spizella – 6 species

Amphispiza – black-throated sparrow

Calamospiza – lark bunting

Chondestes – lark sparrow

Chlorospingus – 8 species

Arremonops – 4 species

Rhynchospiza – 3 species

Peucaea – 8 species

Ammodramus – 3 species

Arremon – 20 species

Junco – 5 species

Zonotrichia – 5 species

Passerella – fox sparrow

Spizelloides – American tree sparrow

Melozone – 8 species

Aimophila – 3 species

Pezopetes – large-footed finch

Atlapetes – 33 species

Pipilo – 5 species

Artemisiospiza – 2 species

Pooecetes – vesper sparrow

Oriturus – striped sparrow

Ammospiza – 4 species

Melospiza – 3 species

Passerculus – 4 species

Morphology

Being a member of Emberizoidea, New World sparrows have only nine easily visible primary feathers on each wing (they also have a 10th primary, but it is greatly reduced and largely concealed). [7] Despite their name, not all of the New World sparrows resemble the typical image of a sparrow. Species in the neotropics tend to be much larger with bold patterns of greens, reds, yellows, and grays. Those in the Nearctic realm are smaller, with brown bodies streaked and with some head patterns. [8] Some even have sexual dimorphism such as the lark bunting and eastern towhee.

Habitat and distribution

The New World sparrows are found throughout in the Americas, from their breeding ranges in the Arctic tundra of North America to their year-round ranges in the Southern Cone of South America. Given this huge expansive range, many species occupy different habitats such as grasslands, rainforests, temperate forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. [8] Those that breed in the northern parts of North America, such as the white-throated sparrow and Lincoln's sparrow, migrate further southward into the continent during the winter, while others like the dark-eyed junco have been able to adapt to staying all year-round in some areas of North America. Most North American passerellid species usually migrate short distances. Some of the Southern Cone species move northward during autumn. [8] In the breeding season, sparrows of different species form small-to-medium flocks, as they do when foraging in the non-breeding season.

Notes

  1. ↑ Species in three monotypic genera were not sampled in the study: the Sierra Madre sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi), the Zapata sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata) and the tanager finch (Oreothraupis arremonops) [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunting (bird)</span> Genus of birds

The buntings are a group of Old World passerine birds forming the genus Emberiza, the only genus in the family Emberizidae. The family contains 45 species. They are seed-eating birds with stubby, conical bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanager</span> Family of birds

The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox sparrow</span> Species of bird

The fox sparrow is a large New World sparrow. It is the only member of the genus Passerella, although some authors split the species into four.

<i>Pipilo</i> Genus of birds

Pipilo is a genus of birds in the American sparrow family Passerellidae. It is one of two genera containing birds with the common name towhee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeConte's sparrow</span> Species of bird

LeConte's sparrow, also known as LeConte's bunting, is one of the smallest New World sparrow species in North America.

<i>Spizella</i> Genus of birds

The genus Spizella is a group of American sparrows in the family Passerellidae.

<i>Ammodramus</i> Genus of birds

Ammodramus is a genus of birds in the family Passerellidae, in the group known as American sparrows. Birds of this genus are known commonly as grassland sparrows. The name Ammodramus is from the Greek for "sand runner".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine-primaried oscine</span> Group of birds

The nine-primaried oscines is a group of bird families in the suborder Passeri (oscines) of the Passeriformes. The composition of the group has changed since the term was introduced but is now considered to consist of seven major families—Fringillidae, Emberizidae, Cardinalidae, Thraupidae, Passerellidae, Parulidae and Icteridae—plus some small families. When Fringillidae is omitted the remaining six families are referred to as the "New World" nine-primaried oscines.

<i>Haplospiza</i> Genus of birds

Haplospiza is a small genus of birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. Formerly classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. Its two members breed in subtropical or tropical moist forest in Central and South America. They are often associated with bamboo.

<i>Catamenia</i> (bird) Genus of birds

Catamenia is a genus of atypical seedeaters. Formerly placed in the Emberizidae, they are now placed in the tanager family Thraupidae.

<i>Embernagra</i> Genus of birds

Embernagra is a genus of South American finch-like birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inca finch</span> Genus of birds

The Inca finches form the genus Incaspiza, of finch-like birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. They were traditionally placed in the family Emberizidae, but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that they are closely related to the Thraupidae. Both their scientific and common name refer to the Incan civilization.

<i>Arremon</i> Genus of birds

Arremon is a genus of neotropical birds in the family Passerellidae. With the exception of the green-striped brushfinch which is endemic to Mexico, all species are found in South America, with a few reaching Central America.

<i>Atlapetes</i> Genus of birds

Atlapetes is a genus of birds in the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. The species are mainly found in montane forest from Mexico to northwestern Argentina.

<i>Camarhynchus</i> Genus of birds

Camarhynchus is a genus of birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. All species of Camarhynchus are endemic to the Galápagos Islands, and together with related genera, they are collectively known as Darwin's finches. Formerly classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent molecular genetic studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family.

<i>Chlorospingus</i> Genus of birds

Chlorospingus is a genus of perching birds, the bush tanagers, traditionally placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae). More recent studies which suggest they are closely related to the genus Arremonops in the Passerellidae. As of July, 2017, the American Ornithological Society assigns the genus to the new family Passerellidae, which contains the New World sparrows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-masked finch</span> Species of bird

The black-masked finch is a species of South American bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Coryphaspiza. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moustached brushfinch</span> Species of bird

The moustached brushfinch is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae.

<i>Peucaea</i> Genus of birds

Peucaea is a genus of American sparrows. The species in this genus used to be included in the genus Aimophila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emberizoidea</span> Superfamily of passerine birds

Emberizoidea is a superfamily of passerines that are referred to as the New World nine-primaried oscines that includes majority of endemics which are exclusive to the New World. Nearly 892 species belong to this group as it includes buntings, American sparrows, the New World blackbirds, the parulid warblers, the cardinals, and the tanagers.

References

  1. ↑ Barker, F.K.; Burns, K.J.; Klicka, J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J. (2015). "New insights into New World biogeography: An integrated view from the phylogeny of blackbirds, cardinals, sparrows, tanagers, warblers, and allies". Auk. 132 (2): 333–348. doi: 10.1642/AUK-14-110.1 .
  2. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2020). "New World Sparrows, Bush Tanagers". IOC World Bird List Version 10.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Chesser, R. Terry; Burns, Kevin J.; Cicero, Carla; Dunn, John L.; Kratter, Andrew W; Lovette, Irby J; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Remsen, J.V. Jr; Rising, James D.; Stotz, Douglas F.; Winker, Kevin (2017). "Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society's Check-list of North American Birds". Auk. 134 (3): 751–773. doi: 10.1642/AUK-17-72.1 .
  4. ↑ Cabanis, Jean (1850–1851). Museum Heineanum : Verzeichniss der ornithologischen Sammlung des Oberamtmann Ferdinand Heine, auf Gut St. Burchard vor Halberstadt (in German and Latin). Vol. 1. Halberstadt: R. Frantz. p. 131.
  5. ↑ Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (August 2022). "New World sparrows, bush tanagers". IOC World Bird List. v 12.2. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Bryson, R.W.; Faircloth, B.C.; Tsai, W.L.E.; McCormack, J.E.; Klicka, J. (2016). "Target enrichment of thousands of ultraconserved elements sheds new light on early relationships within New World sparrows (Aves: Passerellidae)". The Auk. 133 (3): 451–458. doi: 10.1642/AUK-16-26.1 .
  7. ↑ Hall, K.S.S. (2005). "Do nine-primaried passerines have nine or ten primary feathers? The evolution of a concept". Journal of Ornithology. 146 (2): 121–126. doi:10.1007/s10336-004-0070-5.
  8. 1 2 3 Dunne, P.; Karlson, K. T. (2021). Bird Families of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
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