Worthen's sparrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Worthen's sparrow |
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Spizella
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wortheni
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The Worthen's sparrow (Spizella wortheni) is a small bird that lives only in northeastern Mexico. It's a type of American sparrow. A scientist named Robert Ridgway first described it in 1884. He named it after another naturalist, Charles K. Worthen. This little bird has been listed as an endangered species since 1994. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
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What Does Worthen's Sparrow Look Like?
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Worthen's sparrows are about 12.5 to 14 centimeters long. That's about the length of your hand. You can tell them apart by their special head pattern. They have a gray head with a reddish-brown top, called a rufous crown. There's a brown stripe behind their eyes. Their beak is pink.
Their upper body is gray-brown with dark brown streaks. Their belly is gray. Their wings and tail are dark brown. Their wings have lighter edges and a wide whitish or light tan bar.
Young Sparrows
Young Worthen's sparrows, called juveniles, look a bit different. Their heads and chests are brownish. They have dark streaks on their heads. Their chests and sides also have dark brown streaks.
Their Song
The song of the Worthen's sparrow is a dry, chipping sound. It lasts for about 2 to 3 seconds. People say it sounds like a mix between the songs of the field sparrow and the chipping sparrow.
Similar Birds
This sparrow looks a lot like the field sparrow (Spizella pusilla). But they have different feather patterns. They also live in different places and sing different songs.
Life Cycle and Habits
Worthen's sparrows build their nests from May to July. They usually lay three or four eggs. After the breeding season, these birds gather in groups. They like to stay close to places with water.
These sparrows do not migrate, meaning they don't fly to different places for winter. However, a few have been seen in northwestern Mexico. Only one Worthen's sparrow has ever been found in the United States. This happened in 1884 in New Mexico.
Where Does Worthen's Sparrow Live?
Worthen's sparrow lives only in northeastern Mexico. This means it is endemic to that area. Its home range is currently about 25 square kilometers. That's a pretty small area.
In the past, these birds lived in more Mexican states. These included Zacatecas, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. Now, they are mostly found from southeastern Coahuila to western Nuevo León.
This sparrow likes open, dry areas with shrubs and grass. It lives at high elevations, from about 1,200 to 2,450 meters. For finding food, they prefer open spots with short grasses. For nesting and hiding, they like low, thick shrubs.
In 2004, scientists thought there were only about 100 to 120 Worthen's sparrows left.
Why Is Worthen's Sparrow Endangered?
The biggest danger to Worthen's sparrow is habitat destruction. This means their homes are being destroyed. The grasslands where they live are being plowed for farming. They are also used for grazing animals like cows.
Good news! There's a special effort to help these birds. The Bird Conservation Alliance and other groups are working together. They want to protect an area called the Saltillo Savanna in Mexico. This project is called the Mexican Grasslands Appeal.
They hope to buy over 1,000 acres of important grassland. This will help protect and save this amazing North American grassland. By saving this area, they will help the Worthen's sparrow. They will also help other animals like the long-billed curlew, burrowing owl, mountain plover, Sprague's pipit, and ferruginous hawk.
