Botteri's Sparrow

Taxobox
name = Botteri's Sparrow
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Emberizidae
genus = "Aimophila"
species = "A. botterii"
binomial = "Aimophila botterii"
binomial_authority = (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).

Footnotes

References

*|year=2004|id=53581|title=Aimophila botterii|downloaded=12 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* (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)