Prevost's ground sparrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prevost's ground sparrow |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melozone
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| Species: |
biarcuata
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| Synonyms | |
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Melozone biarcuatum |
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The Prevost's ground sparrow (Melozone biarcuata) is a small bird also known as the white-faced ground sparrow. It belongs to a group of birds called American sparrows.
Contents
About the Prevost's Ground Sparrow
This bird's English name honors French naturalist Florent Prévost. A naturalist is someone who studies nature, like plants and animals.
Where This Bird Lives
The Prevost's ground sparrow makes its home in the middle parts of mountains. You can find it from southern Mexico all the way to western Honduras. It usually lives at heights between 600 and 1600 meters (about 2,000 to 5,250 feet) above sea level.
This sparrow likes to live in places with lots of plants. It prefers the thick bushes and undergrowth of forests that are partly open. You might also spot it in coffee farms, along hedgerows, and in big gardens. Another bird, the Cabanis's ground sparrow, used to be thought of as the same kind of bird, but now they are considered different.
What the Prevost's Ground Sparrow Looks Like
The Prevost's ground sparrow is about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. It weighs around 28 grams (about 1 ounce), which is like the weight of a few quarters.
- Beak: It has a short, dark-grey beak.
- Upper Body: Its back and wings are a plain olive-brown color.
- Head: The top of its head, called the crown, is a reddish-brown color. This reddish color also goes down the sides of its neck, forming a half-collar behind its white face.
- Under Body: Its belly and chest are mostly white.
Young Prevost's ground sparrows look a bit different. They are browner on top and have more yellow on their undersides. Their head patterns are also not as clear or bright as the adults'.
Behavior and Life Cycle
This bird is often seen in pairs. It can be quite shy, so it's usually best to look for it around sunset or sunrise. Sometimes, they will come out into open areas early in the morning.
Reproduction and Nesting
The female Prevost's ground sparrow builds a very neat nest. It's shaped like a cup and is lined with soft materials. She usually builds it less than 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) off the ground. She might choose a bush or a large clump of grass, called a tussock, for her nest.
The female lays two or three white eggs. These eggs often have reddish spots on them. She sits on the eggs to keep them warm for 12 to 14 days until they hatch. This is called incubation. Once the chicks hatch, the male bird helps the female find food for them.
Sometimes, another bird called the bronzed cowbird will lay its eggs in the Prevost's ground sparrow's nest. This is called brood parasitism. The cowbird chicks then get raised by the sparrows.
What the Bird Eats
The Prevost's ground sparrow finds its food on the ground. It eats a variety of things, including:
The Bird's Voice
The Prevost's ground sparrow has a few different calls. You might hear a thin tsit sound or a clearer psee. During the wet season, the male bird sings from a hidden spot. His song is a series of whistles that sound like pst’t’t’t peer peer peer whee whee whee.
