saffron-billed sparrow

{{Speciesbox

|image = Arremon flavirostris -Piraju, Sao Paulo, Brazil-8.jpg

|image_caption=In Piraju, São Paulo, Brazil

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2019 |title=Arremon flavirostris |volume=2019 |page=e.T155185342A155636080 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T155185342A155636080.en |access-date=15 November 2021}}

|genus = Arremon

|species = flavirostris

|authority = Swainson, 1838

|synonyms =

| range_map = Arremon flavirostris map.svg

}}

The saffron-billed sparrow (Arremon flavirostris) is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae, the New World sparrows. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ |title=IOC World Bird List (v 11.1) |last1=Gill |first1= F. |last2=Donsker|first2=D.|last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=January 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2021 }}

Taxonomy and systematics

The saffron-billed sparrow has two subspecies, the nominate Arremon flavirostris flavirostris and the "gray-backed" A. f. polionotus.Gunningham, H. R. and D. L. Slager (2020). Saffron-billed Sparrow (Arremon flavirostris), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.sabspa1.01 retrieved April 25, 2021 In January 2021, both the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) and the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) elevated the former subspecies A. f. dorbignii to species status as the moss-backed sparrow.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021

Description

The saffron-billed sparrow's name comes from its "striking orange bill". The adult male's head is mostly black, with a white supercilium from above the eye to the back of the head. The neck is gray and the back, wings, and tail are green. Its underside is white with grayish edges and a narrow black band across the upper chest. The adult female is similar but duller overall. The female's underparts are buffy with brown flanks. Juveniles are similar to the adults but duller. The species' length is from {{convert|15|to|16.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The mean weights of 27 specimens from three populations were from {{convert|23.6|to|28.1|g|oz|abbr=on}}.

Distribution and habitat

The nominate subspecies of saffron-billed sparrow is found in central and eastern Brazil. The "gray-backed" subspecies is found further south, in central and southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, much of Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.

The saffron-billed sparrow primarily inhabits tropical deciduous forest, both primary and second-growth. It is often found near forest edges, interior openings, and along waterways. In elevation it ranges from sea level to {{convert|1400|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Behavior

=Feeding=

Though the saffron-billed sparrow's diet is not well known, it does include fruit, grain, and insects.

=Vocalization=

The song of the saffron-billed sparrow is a series of rapid notes variously described as "tsit, tsee-tsi-tsi, tseép-seép-tseép" and "sidsidlidsidlsidli". Its call is an insect-like "tseet". It vocalizes on or near the ground.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the saffron-billed sparrow as of Least Concern. Though the species' population has not been determined, it is believed to the stable. It inhabits a very large range and appears to tolerate forest fragmentation.