Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) - HBW 16, p. 568

French: Bruant de Cassin German: Cassinammer Spanish: Chingolo de Cassin

Taxonomy: Zonotrichia cassinii Woodhouse, 1852, near San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Formerly placed in Aimophila, but molecular-genetic studies indicate that such treatment would make that genus polyphyletic. Closely related to P. aestivalis and P. botterii, all having aerial song displays; molecular analyses suggest that this group is close to a clade consisting of P. ruficauda, P. humeralis, P. mystacalis, P. sumichrasti and P. carpalis. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds from C & S USA (SW South Dakota, C Wyoming, E & C Colorado E to WC Kansas, and C Oklahoma, S to SW New Mexico, and S Texas) and N Mexico (S to N Chihuahua, S Coahuila, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, and SE Tamaulipas). Non-breeding SW USA (SE Arizona, SW New Mexico, W Texas, possibly also E Nevada) S in Mexico to S Sinaloa, San Luis Potosí, N Nuevo León and N Tamaulipas, rarely to Guanajuato.