Artemisiospiza nevadensis

(Ridgway, 1873)

Sagebrush Sparrow

G5Secure Found in 22 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.902215
Element CodeABPBX97040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations, but breeds in a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyPasserellidae
GenusArtemisiospiza
Other Common Names
sagebrush sparrow (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). Chesser, T.R., R.C. Banks, F.K. Barker, C.Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen Jr., J.D.Rising, D.F. Stotz and K.Winker. 2013. Fifty-Fourth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 130(3):558-571.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly considered conspecific with A. belli, but treated as a separate species on the basis of differences in mitochondrial DNA, morphology, and ecology, and limited gene flow at the contact zone in eastern California (Cicero and Johnson 2007, Cicero and Koo 2012) (AOU 2013).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-03-12
Change Date2013-10-10
Edition Date2025-03-12
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
This species is widespread in the western United States during the breeding season, and in the western United States and northern México during the non-breeding season. The population is reported to be stable.
Range Extent Comments
This species spends the breeding season in the western United States. The breeding range extends from northern Washington east to southern Montana and southern Idaho, and south through the Great Basin as far south as southern Nevada, northern Arizona, and northern New Mexico (Martin and Carlson 2020). The non-breeding range extends from northern Nevada and northern Utah southward through southeastern California, Arizona, and New Mexico and into Baja California Norte, western Sonora, eastern Chihuahua, and northwestern Coahuila México (Martin and Carlson 2020).
Occurrences Comments
There are many occurrences throughout the range.
Threat Impact Comments
Habitat degradation is the primary threat, coming in the form of long-term fire suppression, increasing fire frequency, invasive plant encroachment, and livestock grazing (Martin and Carlson 2020).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species found in shrubby, open flats and sagebrush plains, with nesting sites usually in or under low shrubs like sagebrush or saltbush (Audubon 2022).

Reproduction

Nesting can begin as early as February in some parts of the range and second nesting attempts can continue into June (Martin and Carlson 2020). Females lay 2-5 eggs per clutch (Martin and Carlson 2020).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS4BYes
MontanaS3BYes
IdahoS2BYes
ColoradoS3BYes
UtahS3Yes
Navajo NationS4Yes
WyomingS3BYes
ArizonaS2B,S4NYes
WashingtonS2BYes
NevadaS3BYes
TexasS4Yes
KansasSNAYes
New MexicoS3B,S4NYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge (31-70%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingLarge (31-70%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7.1.1 - Increase in fire frequency/intensityLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensitySmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)

Roadless Areas (22)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
California (10)
AreaForestAcres
Benton RangeInyo National Forest9,637
Chineese Camp (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,339
Dexter CanyonInyo National Forest17,053
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Montana (2)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Tash PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest61,312
Nevada (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
Chineese Camp (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,207
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
West Walker (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,683
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
0401002Ashley National Forest36,113
Wyoming (1)
AreaForestAcres
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
References (5)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). Chesser, T.R., R.C. Banks, F.K. Barker, C.Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen Jr., J.D.Rising, D.F. Stotz and K.Winker. 2013. Fifty-Fourth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 130(3):558-571.
  2. Audubon. 2022. Sagebrush Sparrow: Audubon Field Guide. Accessed online August 19, 2022. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/sagebrush-sparrow
  3. Fink, D., T. Auer, A. Johnston, M. Strimas-Mackey, S. Ligocki, O. Robinson, W. Hochachka, L. Jaromczyk, C. Crowley, K. Dunham, A. Stillman, I. Davies, A. Rodewald, V. Ruiz-Gutierrez, and C. Wood. 2023. eBird Status and Trends, Data Version: 2022; Released: 2023. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. doi: 10.2173/ebirdst.2022
  4. Martin, J. W. and B. A. Carlson. 2020. Sagebrush Sparrow (<i>Artemisiospiza nevadensis</i>), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. doi: 10.2173/bow.sagspa1.01
  5. Rosenberg, K.V, A.M. Dokter, P.J. Blancher, J.R. Sauer, A.C. Smith, P.A. Smith, J.C. Stanton, A. Panjabi, L. Helft, M. Parr, P.P. Marra. 2019. Decline of the North American avifauna. Science. Published online. 19 Sep 2019.