Botteri's Sparrow

The Botteri's Sparrow, Aimophila botterii, is a medium-sized sparrow.

The Botteri's Sparrow is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Botteri's Sparrow is a drab, inconspicuous sparrow that appears somewhat flat-headed and large-billed. It is primarily dull brown and plain-breasted, with a longish, rounded tail. Distribution and Population Trends This species is mostly resident throughout its range. In the United States, it is only found in southeast Arizona and extreme southwest New Mexico, and the coastal region of the lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas. The westernmost population occupying Arizona and environs (A. b. More

The Botteri's Sparrow, Aimophila botterii, is a medium-sized sparrow. This passerine bird is primarily found in Mexico, with a breeding range that extends into the southeastern tip of the U.S. state of Arizona, and a small non-migratory population in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas, which is threatened by loss of habitat. More

The Botteri's Sparrow has a large global range, estimated at 980,000 square kilometers. It is native to Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, and the United States, but has been found in Honduras as well. The bird prefers climates that are subtropical or tropical and dry, and typically lives in a forest, shrubland, or grassland area that meets these climate criteria. The global population of the bird is estimated to be between 500,000 and 5,000,000. More

Botteri's Sparrows (Aimophila botterii) are non-descript birds of tall grasslands in the southwestern U.S. (So non-descript, I chose to illustrate the grass instead!) Due to heavy grazing, they pretty much disappeared from Arizona grasslands at the turn of the 20th century. As the landscape changed over the next 70 years, the were once again nesting in Arizona, in local patches of a tall native grass, sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii). Meanwhile, a couple of species of lovegrass (Eragrostis spp.) were introduced from Africa around the 1930s. More

Botteri's Sparrow: Breeds in southeastern Arizona and southern Texas. Spends winters south of U.S.-Mexico border. Preferred habitats include open arid country such as grasslands, savannas, and desert-scrub. Breeding and Nesting Botteri's Sparrow: Two to five pale blue eggs are laid in a nest made of grass and rootlets, lined with finer materials, and built on the ground or in a grassy tussock, usually sheltered by tall grass or a shrub. More

* Botteri's Sparrow was much more widespread in Arizona in the early and middle 19th century than it is now. Loss of grasslands and possibly natural cycles are probably responsible for the decline. The species was not recorded at all in Arizona from 1903 to 1932. * Up to nine subspecies of Botteri's Sparrow are recognized by taxonomists. More

Botteri's Sparrow Aimophila-Botterii in Southern Texas USA. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 35, no 3. p. 348-349. * Deviche P, McGraw K & Greiner EC. (2005). Interspecific differences in hematozoan infection in sonoran desert Aimophila sparrows. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. vol 41, no 3. p. 532-541. * Eaton MD. (2007). More

The Botteri's Sparrow (Aimophila botterii) is a fairly plain bird in appearance, but it has a wonderful, lively song. The species occurs in the United States in far south Texas (texana race) and parts of southern Arizona (arizonae race). There are at least two other subspecies in Mexico. In Texas, the species can most easily be found at Laguna Atascosa N.W.R. More

We found this Botteri's Sparrow just south of Florida Wash along the road to Madera Canyon. More

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