Spizella atrogularis

BREEDING: Chaparral, sagebrush, and arid scrub; on gentle hillsides to steep, rocky slopes, or in brushy canyons; sea level to nearly 2,700 meters (AOU 1998, Rising 1996, Tenney 1997). Subspecies CANA and CAURINA (of western and central California) inhabit tall, dense chaparral on dry, slopes, often south-facing (USDA Forest Service 1994); also sagebrush (Tenney, pers. comm.). In montane chaparral, associated with chamise, ceonothus, and scrub oak-dominated habitats; in Joshua Tree National Monument uses open chaparral mixed with pinyon-juniper on steep slopes (Grinnell and Miller 1944, Miller and Stebbins 1964, USDA Forest Service 1994). In Inyo and San Bernadino Counties, California (race EVURA), reported to inhabit dense sagebrush stands in valley basins, but generally avoids open sage, preferring chaparral-covered hillsides (Grinnell and Swarth 1913). Also in other habitats such as manzanita chaparral in Arizona (Tenney, pers. comm.). See Tenney (1997) for review of shrub species associations.

Preferred shrub density and height unknown, but usually found in shrub stands too thick to easily walk through (USDA Forest Service 1994). May require periodic, repeated fires for preferred habitat (e.g., burned chaparral stands five to ten years post-fire) but this varies regionally and with vegetation type. Shows some preference for shrub stands with openings and passageways in brush, but these may be young stands, late seral, or senescent stands, depending on vegetation (see Tenney 1997). Nests in low shrubs, 15-120 cm above ground (Tenney 1997, Terres 1980).

POST-BREEDING: Birds may invade higher elevations in late summer (e.g., Grinnell and Swarth 1913).

NON-BREEDING: Generally moves downslope or south into desert grassland scrub, where grass and forb seeds are an important winter food source (Tenney, pers. comm.). May forage beneath shrub canopy or in adjacent grassy areas (Tenney 1997).

Clutch size two to five (usually two to four). Both parents tend young. Nests in loose local colonies (Rising 1996, Terres 1980).