Spizella pallida
Short, plaintive buzzes, despite their insect-like qualities, are produced by this small, subdued sparrow as it darts from aspen edges and shrubby fields. Clay-colored Sparrows are often overlooked because of their plumage, habit and voice-all expertly contribute to an introverted lifestyle. Despite its subdued nature, a Clay-colored Sparrow can be spotted if a little time and patience are used to find the source of its odd song. This sparrow often perches motionlessly on an exposed branch, as if it knows that its drab characteristics provide adequate concealment and protection. The subtlety of the Clay-colored Sparrow contributes to its unassuming beauty. By having to study the bird closely to assure its identification, the observer unknowingly gains an appreciation of the delicate shading, texture and form so often overlooked in birds with more colorful plumage. |
I.D.: Sexes similar: light brown cheek edged with darker brown; light brown, unstreaked breast; white eyebrow; light 'jaw' stripe; dark crown with a pale stripe through the center; pale bill; light-colored legs. Size: L 5-51/2 in. (13-14 cm). Range: common summer breeder and uncommon migrant in the Canadian and northern U.S. Rockies; uncommon to rare breeder and migrant in the central U.S. Rockies; rare elsewhere in the Rockies. Habitat: forest edges, birch and willow shrubs, patches of rose bushes, semi-open areas and open deciduous forests in the lower montane. Nesting: very low in a grassy tuft or small bush; cup nest is woven with grass and small roots and lined with fine materials, including fur; pair incubates 3-4 bluish-green, speckled eggs for 10-12 days. Feeding: forages on the ground and gleans low vegetation for seeds; also eats grasshoppers and other insects. Voice: call is a soft chip; song is an insect-like, repeated, flat buzz that usually skips between 2-3 pitches. Similar Species: Brewer's Sparrow: less contrast in the face markings; faint eye ring; faint (if present) crown stripe. |
