Editing Brewer's sparrow

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri) foraging in front of an American Tarwort (Flourensia cernua) in Picacho Hills, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.jpg
| image_caption = Foraging in [[Las Cruces, New Mexico]].
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2021 |title=''Spizella breweri'' |page=e.T22734705A138492496 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22734705A138492496.en |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>
| genus = Spizella
| species = breweri
| authority = [[John Cassin|Cassin]], 1856
| range_map = Spizella breweri map.svg
| range_map_caption = Range map of ''Spizella breweri''<br>{{leftlegend|#FF7F2A|Breeding}}{{leftlegend|#FFDD55|Migration}}{{leftlegend|#5F8DD3|Nonbreeding}}
}}

'''Brewer's sparrow''' ('''''Spizella breweri''''') is a small, slim [[species]] of [[American sparrow]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Passerellidae]]. This bird was named after the ornithologist [[Thomas Mayo Brewer]].<ref>[http://www.beautyofbirds.com/brewerssparrows.html Brewer's Sparrows (''Spizella breweri'')]. Beautyofbirds.com (previously avianweb.com). Retrieved on 2014-05-05.</ref>

==Description and systematics==
Adults have grey-brown backs and speckled brown crowns, both with dark streaks, and a pale eye-ring. Their wings are brown with light wing bars and the underparts are pale grey. Their bill is pale with a dark tip and they have a long notched tail. They are similar in appearance to the [[clay-colored sparrow]] (''S. pallida'') but do not have a pale stripe on the crown or grey neck patch.

'''Measurements''':<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brewer's Sparrow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brewers_Sparrow/id|access-date=2020-09-29|website=www.allaboutbirds.org|language=en}}</ref>

* '''Length''': 5.1–5.9 in (13–15&nbsp;cm)
* '''Weight''': 0.4–0.5 oz (11–14 g)
* '''Wingspan''': 7.1–7.9 in (18–20&nbsp;cm)

The male sings to defend a nesting territory. The song is a long varied mix of notes and trills. Males have two distinct types of songs – classified as short and long songs.

There are two distinct [[subspecies]]:
* '''Brewer's sparrow''' proper, '''''Spizella breweri breweri'''''
:Found in brushy areas, especially with [[sagebrush]], in southern parts of western [[Canada]] and in the western United States.
* [[Timberline sparrow]], '''''Spizella breweri taverneri'''''
:Found in thicketed areas around the [[tree line]] in the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]] of [[British Columbia]], [[Alberta]], and northern [[Montana]], the southern [[Yukon]], and southeastern [[Alaska]]. These birds are somewhat darker and larger than the southern subspecies; some consider this to be a separate species.

==Ecology and status==
These birds [[bird migration|migrate]] to the [[southwestern United States]] south to central [[Mexico]]. These birds forage primarily in shrubs or in low vegetation, but also on the ground. They mainly eat insects in summer with seeds becoming a more important part of the diet at other times of the year. They usually forage in flocks outside of the breeding season, sometimes with other sparrows. The female typically lays three to four eggs (up to five) in a [[cup nest]] in low shrubs.

Brewer's sparrow has decreased in some parts of its range. Causes are not well understood, but it is suspected that the decline is due at least in part to destruction of sagebrush habitat. Additional information on resource use and limitation during the wintering season is desperately needed. When the timberline sparrow was still considered a good species, Brewer's sparrow was classified as [[near threatened]] by the [[IUCN]]. However, as only entire species are evaluated for the [[IUCN Red List]], following the merger the entire population of ''S. breweri'' is classified as species of [[least concern]].<ref>[[BirdLife International]] (2008) [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=32364&m=0 Brewer's Sparrow Species Factsheet], [http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html 2008 IUCN Redlist status changes] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914000000/http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html |date=September 14, 2008 }}.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070716004342/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/grasbird/brsp/brsp.htm "Effects of Management Practices on Brewer's Sparrow"] – NPWRC
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5620id.html Brewer's sparrow – ''Spizella breweri''] – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
*[http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=brewer%27s+sparrow&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Brewer's sparrow photo gallery] VIREO
<!-- move to references section as these are evaluated and worked into the article text.
==Further reading==
{{Commons}}
===Book===

* Rotenberry, J. T., M. A. Patten, and K. L. Preston. 1999. ''Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)''. In ''The Birds of North America'', No. 390 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

===Report===

* Sarell MJ & McGuinness KP. (1996). ''Status of the brewer's sparrow in British Columbia''. Victoria: Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks, Wildlife Branch, 1996. x, 12 p. (24 pages)

===Thesis===

* Castrale JS. Ph.D. (1981). ''USE OF MANAGED SAGEBRUSH GRASSLANDS BY BIRD POPULATIONS''. Brigham Young University, United States – Utah.
* Chalfoun AD. Ph.D. (2006). ''Demographic and behavioral responses of breeding birds to variation in food, nest predation, and habitat structure across multiple spatial scales''. University of Montana, United States – Montana.
* Croteau EK. M.Sc. (2002). ''Conservation genetics of northern populations of a declining songbird, the Brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri breweri) in a fragmented landscape''. Queen's University at Kingston (Canada), Canada.
* Gordon CE. Ph.D. (1999). ''Community ecology and management of wintering grassland sparrows in Arizona''. The University of Arizona, United States – Arizona.
* Howe FP. Ph.D. (1993). ''Effects of an experimental food reduction on nesting shrubsteppe passerines''. Colorado State University, United States – Colorado.
* Lewis AR. Ph.D. (2004). ''Sagebrush steppe habitats and their associated bird species in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming: Life on the edge of the sagebrush ecosystem''. South Dakota State University, United States – South Dakota.
* Mahony NA. Ph.D. (2003). ''Reproductive ecology and population viability of Brewer's sparrows at the northern edge of the breeding range''. The University of British Columbia (Canada), Canada.
* Pernanen SK. M.Sc. (1994). ''Behavioural and ecological interactions of Brewer's (Spizella breweri) and clay-colored (S. pallida) sparrows''. University of Toronto (Canada), Canada.
* Petersen KL. Ph.D. (1986). ''AVIAN ECOLOGICAL STUDIES IN A SAGEBRUSH COMMUNITY: BIRD RESPONSES TO FIRE AND TERRITORY DYNAMICS IN A SPARROW POPULATION (IDAHO)''. Iowa State University, United States – Iowa.
* Walker BL. MSc. (2000). ''The structure, use, and function of song categories in the Brewer’s Sparrow.'' University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA.

===Articles===

* Belthoff JR, Powers LR & Reynolds TD. (1998). ''Breeding birds at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, 1985–1991''. Great Basin Naturalist. vol '''58''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;167–183.
* Best LB & Petersen KL. (1985). ''Seasonal Changes in Detectability of Sage Amphispiza-Belli and Brewer's Sparrows Spizella-Breweri''. Condor. vol '''87''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;556–558.
* Biermann GC, McGillivray WB & Nordin KE. (1987). ''The Effect of Cowbird Parasitism on Brewer's Sparrow Productivity in Alberta Canada''. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol '''58''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;350–354.
* Bock CE & Bock JH. (1987). ''Avian Habitat Occupancy Following Fire in a Montana USA Shrubsteppe''. Prairie Naturalist. vol '''19''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;153–158.
* Bradford DF, Franson SE, Neale AC, Heggem DT, Miller GR & Canterbury GE. (1998). ''Bird species assemblages as indicators of biological integrity in Great Basin rangeland''. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. vol '''49''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;1–22.
* Castrale JS. (1982). ''Effects of 2 Sagebrush Artemisia-Spp Control Methods on Nongame Birds''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol '''46''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;945–952.
* Dawson WR, Carey C, Adkisson CS & Ohmart RD. (1979). ''Responses of Brewers Sparrows Spizella-Breweri and Chipping Sparrows Spizella-Passerina to Water Restriction''. Physiological Zoology. vol '''52''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;529–541.
* Doyle TJ. (1997). ''The timberline sparrow, Spizella (breweri) taverneri, in Alaska, with notes on breeding habitat and vocalizations''. Western Birds. vol '''28''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;1–12.
* Eckert K. (1975). ''Hypothetical Brewers Sparrow Sighting''. Loon. vol '''47''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;40–41.
* Gill MJ & Krannitz PG. (1997). ''A case of helping behavior at a Brewer's Sparrow, Spizella breweri, nest''. Canadian Field Naturalist. vol '''111''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;650–652.
* Gordon CE. (2000). ''Movement patterns of wintering grassland sparrows in Arizona''. Auk. vol '''117''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;748–759.
* Griffin SC, Walker BL & Hart MM. (2003). ''Using GIS to guide field surveys for timberline sparrows in northwestern Montana''. Northwest Science. vol '''77''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;54–63.
* Hill HO. (1980). ''Breeding Birds in a Desert Scrub Community in Southern Nevada USA''. Southwestern Naturalist. vol '''25''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;173–180.
* Howe FP. (1991). ''Two New Host Species for the Parasitic Blow Fly Protocalliphora Braueri''. The Wilson Bulletin. vol '''103''', no 3. p. 520.
* Howe FP, Knight RL, McEwen LC & George TL. (1996). ''Direct and indirect effects of insecticide applications on growth and survival of nestling passerines''. Ecological Applications. vol '''6''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;1314–1324.
* Howe FP, Knight RL, McEwen LC & George TL. (2000). ''Diet switching and food delivery by shrubsteppe passerines in response to an experimental reduction in food''. Western North American Naturalist. vol '''60''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;139–154.
* Ingelfinger F & Anderson S. (2004). ''Passerine response to roads associated with natural gas extraction in a sagebrush steppe habitat''. Western North American Naturalist. vol '''64''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;385–395.
* Klicka J, Zink RM, Barlow JC, McGillivray WB & Doyle TJ. (1999). ''Evidence supporting the recent origin and species status of the Timberline Sparrow''. Condor. vol '''101''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;577–588.
* Klicka J, Zink RM, Barlow JC, McGillivray WB & Doyle TJ. (2001). ''The taxonomic rank of Spizella taverneri: A response to Mayr and Johnson''. Condor. vol '''103''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;420–422.
* Knick ST & Rotenberry JT. (1995). ''Landscape characteristics of fragmented shrubsteppe habitats and breeding passerine birds''. Conservation Biology. vol '''9''', no 5. pp.&nbsp;1059–1071.
* Knick ST & Rotenberry JT. (2000). ''Ghosts of habitats past: Contribution of landscape change to current habitats used by shrubland birds''. Ecology. vol '''81''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;220–227.
* Knick ST & Rotenberry JT. (2002). ''Effects of habitat fragmentation on passerine birds breeding in Intermountain shrubsteppe''. Studies in Avian Biology. vol '''25''', pp.&nbsp;130–140.
* Knopf FL, Sedgwick JA & Inkley DB. (1990). ''Regional Correspondence among Shrubsteppe Bird Habitats''. Condor. vol '''92''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;45–53.
* Mahony NA, Krannitz PG & Martin K. (2006). ''Seasonal fecundity of sagebrush brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri breweri) at the northern edge of its breeding range''. Auk. vol '''123''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;512–523.
* Mahony NA, Vander Haegen WM, Walker BL & Krannitz PG. (2001). ''Male incubation and multiple brooding in Sagebrush Brewer's Sparrows''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''113''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;441–444.
* Mayr E & Johnson NK. (2001). ''Is Spizella taverneri a species or a subspecies?''. Condor. vol '''103''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;418–419.
* Nordin KE, McGillivray WB & Biermann GC. (1988). ''Courtship Feeding in Brewer's Sparrows Spizella-Breweri''. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol '''59''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;33–36.
* Noson AC, Schmitz RA & Miller RF. (2006). ''Influence of fire and Juniper encroachment on birds in high-elevation sagebrush steppe''. Western North American Naturalist. vol '''66''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;343–353.
* Ohmart RD & Smith EL. (1970). ''Use of Sodium Chloride Solutions by the Brewers Sparrow and Tree Sparrow''. Auk. vol '''87''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;329–341.
* Pavlacky DC Jr. & Anderson SH. (2004). ''Comparative habitat use in a juniper woodland bird community''. Western North American Naturalist. vol '''64''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;376–384.
* Petersen KL & Best LB. (1985). ''Brewers Sparrow Spizella-Breweri Nest-Site Characteristics in a Sagebrush Community''. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol '''56''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;23–27.
* Petersen KL & Best LB. (1986). ''Diets of Nestling Sage Sparrows Amphispiza-Belli and Brewer's Sparrows Spizella-Breweri in an Idaho USA Sagebrush Community''. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol '''57''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;283–294.
* Petersen KL, Best LB & Winter BM. (1986). ''Growth of Nestling Sage Sparrows and Brewer's Sparrows''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''98''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;535–546.
* Ports MA. (1981). ''Miscellaneous Summer Records of Birds from Southwestern Kansas USA''. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. vol '''84''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;109–114.
* Reisen WK, Chiles RE, Martinez VM, Fang Y & Green EN. (2003). ''Experimental infection of California birds with western equine encephalomyelitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses''. Journal of Medical Entomology. vol '''40''', no 6. pp.&nbsp;968–982.
* Reynolds TD. (1981). ''Nesting of the Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes-Montanus Sage Sparrow Amphispiza-Belli and Brewers Sparrow Spizella-Breweri in Southeastern Idaho USA''. Condor. vol '''83''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;61–64.
* Rich T. (1980). ''Nest Placement in Sage Thrashers Oreoscoptes-Montanus Sage Sparrows Amphispiza-Belli and Brewers Sparrows Spizella-Breweri''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''92''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;362–368.
* Rich TD. (2002). ''The short song of Brewer's Sparrow: Individual and geographic variation in southern Idaho''. Western North American Naturalist. vol '''62''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;288–299.
* Rotenberry JT & Wiens JA. (1989). ''Reproductive Biology of Shrubsteppe Passerine Birds Geographical and Temporal Variation in Clutch Size Brood Size and Fledging Success''. Condor. vol '''91''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;1–14.
* Rotenberry JT & Wiens JA. (1991). ''Weather and Reproductive Variation in Shrubsteppe Sparrows a Hierarchical Analysis''. Ecology. vol '''72''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;1325–1335.
* Rotenberry JT & Wiens JA. (1998). ''Foraging patch selection by shrubsteppe sparrows''. Ecology. vol '''79''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;1160–1173.
* Vander Haegen WM, Dobler FC & Pierce DJ. (2000). ''Shrubsteppe bird response to habitat and landscape variables in eastern Washington, U.S.A''. Conservation Biology. vol '''14''', no 4. pp.&nbsp;1145–1160.
* Walker BL.  (2004).  ''Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Brewer's Sparrow.''  Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. Available at: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/grasbird/brsp/brsp.htm (Version 12AUG2004).
* Wiens JA & Rotenberry JT. (1980). ''Patterns of Morphology and Ecology in Grassland and Shrub Steppe Bird Populations''. Ecological Monographs. vol '''50''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;287–308.
* Wiens JA & Rotenberry JT. (1985). ''Response of Breeding Passerine Birds to Rangeland Alteration in a North American Shrubsteppe Locality''. Journal of Applied Ecology. vol '''22''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;655–668.
* Wiens JA, Rotenberry JT & Van Horne B. (1985). ''Territory Size Variations in Shrubsteppe Birds''. Auk. vol '''102''', no 3. pp.&nbsp;500–505.
* Wiens JA, Rotenberry JT & Van Horne B. (1986). ''A Lesson in the Limitations of Field Experiments Shrubsteppe Birds and Habitat Alteration''. Ecology. vol '''67''', no 2. pp.&nbsp;365–376.
* Wiens JA, Van Horne B & Rotenberry JT. (1987). ''Temporal and Spatial Variations in the Behavior of Shrub-Steppe Birds''. [[Oecologia]]. vol '''73''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;60–70.
* Wilson Ornithol Soc Conserv C. (1976). ''Conservation Committee Report on Effects of Alteration of Sagebrush Communities on the Associated Avi Fauna''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''88''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;165–171.
* Woodcock JM. (2006). ''Brewer's Sparrow: First record for Ontario''. Ontario Birds. vol '''24''', no 1. pp.&nbsp;44–46.
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q659632}}
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[[Category:Spizella|Brewer's sparrow]]
[[Category:Native birds of Western Canada]]
[[Category:Native birds of the Western United States]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1856|Brewer's sparrow]]
[[Category:Taxa named by John Cassin|Brewer's sparrow]]