Editing American tree sparrow

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = American Tree Sparrow - Flickr - Fyn Kynd.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |year=2021 |title=''Passerella arborea'' |page=e.T22721159A138528295 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22721159A138528295.en |access-date=2 October 2022}}</ref>
| genus = Spizelloides
| parent_authority = Slager & [[John Klicka|Klicka]], 2014
| species = arborea
| authority = ([[Alexander Wilson (ornithologist)|Wilson]], 1810)
| synonyms = ''Spizella monticola''<br />''Spizella arborea''<br />''Passerella arborea''
| range_map = Spizelloides arborea map.svg
| range_map_caption = Range map of ''Spizelloides arborea''<br>{{leftlegend|#FF7F2A|Breeding}}{{leftlegend|#FFDD55|Migration}}{{leftlegend|#5F8DD3|Nonbreeding}}
}}

[[File:American tree sparrow in CP (41285) (cropped).jpg|thumb|American tree sparrow in [[Central Park]]]]
The '''American tree sparrow''' ('''''Spizelloides arborea'''''), also known as the '''winter sparrow''',<ref name = "Sandrock"/> is a medium-sized [[New World sparrow]].

== Taxonomy ==
In 2014, the American tree sparrow was moved to its own [[Monotypic taxon|monotypic]] genus, ''Spizelloides'', from genus ''[[Spizella]]'', based on [[polyphyly]] in ''Spizella'' and multilocus molecular evidence suggesting the species was strongly divergent from other extant genera.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Slager |first1=David L. |last2=Klicka |first2=John |date=2014 |title=A new genus for the American Tree Sparrow (Aves: Passeriformes: Passerellidae) |url=http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5640973D-C2B7-4D8F-BC5C-7460FBE59A0B |journal=Zootaxa |volume=3821 |issue=3 |pages=398–400 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3821.3.9|pmid=24989754 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Klicka |first1=J. |last2=Barker |first2=F.K. |last3=Burns |first3=K.J. |last4=Lanyon |first4=S.M. |last5=Lovette |first5=I.J. |last6=Chaves |first6=J.A. |last7=Bryson, Jr. |first7=R.W. |date=2014 |title=A comprehensive multilocus assessment of sparrow (Family Passerellidae) relationships. |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=77 |pages=177–182 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2014.04.025|pmid=24792084 }}</ref> 
[[File:Spizelloides arborea CT5.jpg|left|thumb|257x257px]]

== Description ==
The bird's measurements are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|title=American Tree Sparrow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Tree_Sparrow/id|access-date=2020-09-29|website=www.allaboutbirds.org|language=en}}</ref>

* '''Length''': 5.5 in (14&nbsp;cm)
* '''Weight''': 0.5–1.0 oz (13–28 g)
* '''Wingspan''': 9.4 in (24&nbsp;cm)

Adults have a rusty cap and grey underparts with a small dark spot on the breast. They have a rusty back with lighter stripes, brown wings with white bars and a slim tail. Their face is grey with a rusty line through the eye. Their flanks are splashed with light brown. They are similar in appearance to the [[chipping sparrow]].

== Distribution and habitat ==
Their breeding habitat is [[tundra]] or the northern limits of the [[Taiga|boreal forest]] in [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]]. They nest on the ground. American tree sparrows [[Bird migration|migrate]] into southern Canada and the [[United States]] to spend the winter.

== Diet and behavior ==
These birds forage on the ground or in low bushes, often in flocks when not nesting. They mainly [[Seed predation|eat seeds]] and [[insect]]s, but also eat some [[Berry|berries]]. They are commonly seen near feeders with [[dark-eyed junco]]s.

=== Nesting and breeding ===
American Tree Sparrows typically nest on or near the ground. The nest is composed of fine grasses, feathers, mosses, twigs and strips of bark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Tree Sparrow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology |url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Tree_Sparrow/lifehistory |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.allaboutbirds.org |language=en}}</ref>   

Despite laying one egg per day over a week, the hatching of the chicks is syncronized to within a few hours of each other. Because of this, all the chicks fledge and forage together. <ref>{{Cite web |title=American Tree Sparrow Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology |url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Tree_Sparrow |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.allaboutbirds.org |language=en}}</ref> Breeding pairs do not stay together after the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Tree Sparrow Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology |url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Tree_Sparrow/lifehistory |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.allaboutbirds.org |language=en}}</ref> 

=== Call ===
This bird's song is a sweet high warble descending in pitch and becoming buzzy near the finish.

==References==
{{Reflist | refs = 
<ref name = "Sandrock">{{cite book | title = The Scientific Nomenclature of Birds in the Upper Midwest | first1 = James | last1 = Sandrock | first2 = Jean C. |last2 = Prior | year = 2014 | publisher = University of Iowa Press | location = Iowa City, IA, US | page = 137 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GsTpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA137 | isbn = 978-1-60938-225-4}}</ref>

}}<!-- WilsonBull18:47 (compare to current Ohio checklist http://www.ohiobirds.org/publications/OBRClist.pdf) -->
==Further reading==

===Book===

* Naugler, C. T. 1993. ''American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)''. In ''The Birds of North America'', No. 37. (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.

===Thesis===

* Heydweiller AM. Ph.D. (1936). ''LIFE HISTORY OF THE TREE SPARROW, SPIZELLA ARBOREA''. Cornell University, United States, New York.
* Naugler CT. M.Sc. (1992). ''Effects of the acoustic environment on song structure and song recognition in the American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea)''. Queen's University at Kingston (Canada), Canada.

===Articles===
* Cusick EK & Wilson FE. (1972). ''On Control of Spontaneous Testicular Regression in Tree Sparrows Spizella-Arborea''. General & Comparative Endocrinology. vol '''19''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;441–456.
* Delisle JM & Savidge JA. (1997). ''Avian use and vegetation characteristics of conservation reserve program fields''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol '''61''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;318–325.
* Durairaj G & Martin EW. (1970). ''Fatty-Acid Composition of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea''. American Zoologist. vol '''10''', no 3.
* Hannah KC. (2005). ''An apparent case of cooperative hunting in immature Northern Shrikes''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''117''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;407–409.
* Helms CW & Smythe RB. (1969). ''Variation in Major Body Components of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea Sampled within the Winter Range''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''81''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;280–292.
* Keiper RR. (1969). ''Causal Factors of Stereotypies in Caged Birds Serinus-Canarius Serinus-Mozambicus Serinus-Leucopygius Spizella-Arborea Junco-Hyemalis Cyanocitta-Cristata Rearing''. Animal Behaviour. vol '''17''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;114–119.
* Martin EW. (1968). ''The Effects of Dietary Protein on the Energy and Nitrogen Balance of the Tree Sparrow Spizella-Arborea-Arborea''. Physiological Zoology. vol '''41''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;313–331.
* Morrison JV & Wilson FE. (1972). ''Ovarian Growth in Tree Sparrows Spizella-Arborea''. Auk. vol '''89''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;146–155.
* Paton PWC & Pogson TH. (1996). ''Relative abundance, migration strategy, and habitat use of birds breeding in Denali National Park, Alaska''. Canadian Field-Naturalist. vol '''110''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;599–606.
* Stuebe MM & Ketterson ED. (1982). ''A STUDY OF FASTING IN TREE SPARROWS (SPIZELLA-ARBOREA) AND DARK-EYED JUNCOS (JUNCO-HYEMALIS) - ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS''. Auk. vol '''99''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;299–308.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Spizelloides arborea}}
{{Wikispecies|Spizelloides arborea}}
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Tree_Sparrow.html American tree sparrow species account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5590id.html American tree sparrow - ''Spizella arborea''] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* {{InternetBirdCollection|american-tree-sparrow-passerella-arborea|American tree sparrow}}
* {{VIREO|American+Tree+Sparrow|American tree sparrow}}
* {{IUCN_Map|22721159|Spizella arborea}}

{{Passeroidea|E.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q27076037|from2=Q135913}}

[[Category:Passerellidae]]
[[Category:Native birds of Alaska]]
[[Category:Birds of Canada]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1810]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Alexander Wilson (ornithologist)]]