Spizella

Spizella
Field sparrow Spizella pusilla
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Passerellidae
Genus:	Spizella Bonaparte, 1832
Type species
Fringilla pusilla [1] A. Wilson, 1810
Species
See text

The genus Spizella is a group of American sparrows in the family Passerellidae. ^[2]

These birds are fairly small and slim, with short bills, round heads and long wings. They are usually found in semi-open areas, and outside of the nesting season they often forage in small mixed flocks. ^[2]

Systematics

This genus was formerly placed with the Old World buntings in the family Emberizidae. ^[2] However, genetic studies revealed that New World sparrows formed a distinct clade and thus it was placed in the resurrected family Passerellidae. ^{[3] [4]}

Species

• Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina
• Clay-colored sparrow, Spizella pallida
• Brewer's sparrow, Spizella breweri
  • Timberline sparrow, Spizella breweri taverneri
• Field sparrow, Spizella pusilla
• Worthen's sparrow, Spizella wortheni
• Black-chinned sparrow, Spizella atrogularis

The American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea, was formerly a member of this group, but is now placed in its own monotypic genus Spizelloides. ^[2]

References

1. "Passerellidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
2. 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. S2CID   34796887.
3. Barker, F.K.; Burns, K.J.; Klicka, J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J. (2013). "Going to extremes: contrasting rates of diversification in a recent radiation of New World passerine birds". Systematic Biology. 62 (2): 298–320. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/sys094 . PMID   23229025.
4. 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): 333–346. doi: 10.1642/AUK-14-110.1 .