Botteri's Sparrow
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| Aimophila botterii (Sclater, 1858) |
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 southern-most tip of 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 lifestock; 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 & Bock, 2005).
The name of this species commemorates the ornithologist Matteo Botteri (1808-1877).
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Aimophila botterii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- 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. [Article in English with Spanish abstract] DOI:10.1650/7741.1 (HTML abstract)
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