Amphispiza

Taxobox
name = "Amphispiza"

---

image_width = 200px
image_caption = Adult Black-throated Sparrow ("A. bilineata")
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Emberizidae
genus = "Amphispiza"
genus_authority = Coues, 1874
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Amphispiza bilineata"
"Amphispiza belli" "Amphispiza" is a genus of birds in the bunting and American sparrow family. It contains two species:

* Black-throated Sparrow, "Amphispiza bilineata"
* Sage Sparrow, "Amphispiza belli"

The Five-striped Sparrow was formerly placed in this genus.

Both inhabit dry areas of the western United States and northern Mexico, but in different habitats. They frequently run on the ground with their tails cocked and sing from low bushes. Adults are whitish on the belly and gray above and on the head, with black and white head markings. Juveniles are rather similar to each other, grayish brown above and whitish below, with short streaks on the breast (Howell and Webb 1995).

"Amphispiza" is from Ancient Greek "amphi-" (αμφι-), "on both sides" or "around", and "spiza" (σπιζα), "finch", originally applied to the Sage Sparrow; it was then considered a finch and resembles some other finch-like birds "around" it, that is, in its range (Holloway 2003).

References

*
*
* Peterson, Alan P. (Editor). 1999. [http://www.zoonomen.net "Zoological Nomenclature Resource" (Zoonomen)] . Accessed 2007-07-29.