General
Black-chinned Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow, mostly plain, dark gray with brown-streaked back, pale gray belly, and black chin and eyestripe. Bill is pink. Female has less black on chin. Juvenile lacks black facial markings.
Range and Habitat
Black-chinned Sparrow: Breeds from south central California east to southern Nevada and southwest Utah, south to Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and Mexico. Spends winters from coastal California, southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, south into Baja California and Mexico. In desert regions, inhabit tall, dense sagebrush or other brushlands; in the far west, prefer dry chaparral with a variety of shrubs and scrub oak.
Breeding and Nesting
Black-chinned Sparrow: Two to five light blue eggs are laid in a grass-lined cup nest well concealed in a low bush. Female incubates eggs for about 13 days.
Foraging and Feeding
Black-chinned Sparrow: Feeds on seeds and insects; forages in sage and chaparral.
Readily Eats
Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit
Vocalization
Black-chinned Sparrow: Song is a series of slurred notes, either "swee swee" or "chew chew chew", running together into a rapid trill.
Similar Species
Black-chinned Sparrow: Juncos have white outer tail feathers.