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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Perching Birds (Order Passeriformes)

-New World Sparrows (Family Passerellidae)

-Genus Chondestes

-Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)


Chondestes grammacus, also known as the Lark Sparrow, is a small songbird found in open grasslands and agricultural areas. Its range spans from the Great Plains and Midwest of the United States to western Mexico. Its diet consists of seeds, insects, and berries. These birds are solitary, and can often be seen hopping on the ground in search of food. They have distinct black and white facial patterns, a rusty crown, and a white spot on each wing. Their brown upperparts and white throat and breast make them easily recognizable.

Lark Sparrow

Chondestes grammacus

Diet

  • Primarily seeds of grasses, weeds, and other herbaceous plants.

  • During the breeding season, feeds heavily on insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, ants, crickets, and spiders.

  • Forages mainly on the ground, scratching through leaf litter and bare soil for food.

Range

  • Breeds across much of the central and western United States and into northern and central Mexico.

  • Winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and locally in Central America.

  • In Mexico, it is widespread during winter and is found in the Zihuatanejo region as a winter visitor.

  • Inhabits open grasslands, savannas, agricultural fields, brushy pastures, desert scrub, woodland edges, and open pine-oak forests.

Male / Female

  • Male: Bold black-and-white facial pattern with a rich chestnut ear patch and crown stripe, white underparts with a central black breast spot, and a long rounded tail with white outer feathers.

  • Female: Very similar in appearance but generally duller, with less sharply defined facial markings and a slightly smaller black breast spot.

  • Sexes are difficult to distinguish in the field, especially outside the breeding season.

Size

  • Length: 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in)

  • Wingspan: 28–30 cm (11–12 in)

  • Weight: 24–33 g

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