General

Five-striped Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow with dark, gray-brown upperparts, gray underparts, and white belly. Head has white eye-line and eye-ring, and black-and-white throat stripes. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Five-striped Sparrow: Uncommon and local in southern Arizona; also found in Mexico; inhabits arid rocky hills with dense brush.

Breeding and Nesting

Five-striped Sparrow: Three to four white eggs are laid in a cup nest made of rootlets, grass, and finer materials, and built atop a grassy tussock, on the ground, or low in a bush. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Five-striped Sparrow: Eats insects and seeds gleaned from the ground or foliage.

Readily Eats

Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit

Vocalization

Five-striped Sparrow: Makes a trilled chipping phrase of "serr-it-chee-chee-it-ts-chee-chee-it-serr-serr." Call is a soft "sik" or a low clucking.

Similar Species

Five-striped Sparrow: Black-Throated Sparrow has completely black chin, throat, and breast; two white stripes on each side of head, white underparts with brown sides and flanks, brown upperparts, and white-edged tail.