Botteri's Sparrow

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.

It was not found in Arizona between the 1890s and the mid-20th century due to excessive grazing of livestock; nowadays, it is locally common in its Arizona range due to recovery of vegetation. Juvenile birds apparently need dense vegetation to hide in during fledging; the uncommon native sacaton grass Sporobolus wrightii is preferred, but stands of introduced non-native Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and Boer lovegrass (E. curvula var. conferta) are also successfully utilized, though at lower population density.Jones, Zach F. & Bock, Carl E. (2005): The Botteri's sparrow and exotic Arizona grasslands: an ecological trap or habitat regained? Condor 107(4): 731–741. (HTML abstract)

The name of this species commemorates the ornithologist Matteo Botteri (1808–1877).

References

Further reading

Book

• Webb, E. A., and C. E. Bock. 1996. Botteri’s Sparrow (Aimophila botterii). In The Birds of North America, No. 216 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

Thesis

• Jones ZF. Ph.D.......
...

Read More