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Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) - HBW 16, p. 564

French: Bruant à gorge noire German: Schwarzkehlammer Spanish: Chingolo Gorjinegro

Taxonomy: Emberiza bilineata Cassin, 1850, Texas, on Rio Grande, USA.
Genus has sometimes been subsumed into Aimophila, but this treatment not supported by molecular-genetic findings, which indicate that the two are not closely allied; juvenile plumages also different. Recent molecular work suggests that present genus is in a clade that contains also Calamospiza, Chondestes and Spizella; also that present species is close to A. quinquistriata. ­Several other races proposed: dapolia (described from Chisos Mts, Texas) included within opuntia; in SW Gulf of California, carmenae (Carmen I) and sanctissim.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Emberiza bilineata Cassin, 1850, Texas, on Rio Grande, USA.
Genus has sometimes been subsumed into Aimophila, but this treatment not supported by molecular-genetic findings, which indicate that the two are not closely allied; juvenile plumages also different. Recent molecular work suggests that present genus is in a clade that contains also Calamospiza, Chondestes and Spizella; also that present species is close to A. quinquistriata. ­Several other races proposed: dapolia (described from Chisos Mts, Texas) included within opuntia; in SW Gulf of California, carmenae (Carmen I) and sanctissima (Espíritu Santo I) both synonymized with bangsi; confinis (Chihuahua Municipality, C Chihuahua) treated as a synonym of grisea. Nine subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • deserticola Ridgway, 1898 - breeds in W USA from C Washington, Oregon, NE California, N Nevada, S Idaho, N Utah, SW Wyoming and W Colorado S through Great Basin to NW Mexico (NE & C Baja California S, including Cedros I, Natividad I and Ángel de la Guarda I, to c. 27° N, E to NW Chihuahua); non-breeding in S third of breeding range and S into N Sonora (Mexico).
  • opuntia Burleigh & Lowery, 1939 - breeds in SE Colorado and NW Oklahoma S through E New Mexico and W Texas (USA) S to N Mexico (NW Coahuila); non-breeding in S parts of breeding range.
  • bilineata (Cassin, 1850) - S USA (NC Texas) S to NE Mexico (E Coahuila, Nuevo León and lower elevations of Tamaulipas).

     See all 9 subspecies
  • deserticola Ridgway, 1898 - breeds in W USA from C Washington, Oregon, NE California, N Nevada, S Idaho, N Utah, SW Wyoming and W Colorado S through Great Basin to NW Mexico (NE & C Baja California S, including Cedros I, Natividad I and Ángel de la Guarda I, to c. 27° N, E to NW Chihuahua); non-breeding in S third of breeding range and S into N Sonora (Mexico).
  • opuntia Burleigh & Lowery, 1939 - breeds in SE Colorado and NW Oklahoma S through E New Mexico and W Texas (USA) S to N Mexico (NW Coahuila); non-breeding in S parts of breeding range.
  • bilineata (Cassin, 1850) - S USA (NC Texas) S to NE Mexico (E Coahuila, Nuevo León and lower elevations of Tamaulipas).
  • bangsi Grinnell, 1927 - S Baja California (S from c. 26° N), including nearby islands (except Tortuga I and Cerralvo I), in NW Mexico.
  • tortugae van Rossem, 1930 - Tortuga I, in WC Gulf of California (S Baja California).
  • belvederei Banks, 1963 - Cerralvo I, in SW Gulf of California (S Baja California).
  • pacifica Nelson, 1900 - C & S Sonora (including Tiburón I and San Pedro Nolasco I, in E Gulf of California) and N Sinaloa, in NW Mexico.
  • cana van Rossem, 1930 - San Esteban I, in E Gulf of California.
  • grisea Nelson, 1898 - NC Mexico from C Chihuahua, S Coahuila, San Luis Potosí and SW Tamaulipas S to N Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Hidalgo.

Videos

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Sounds

2 recordings
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