Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) - HBW 16, p. 560

French: Bruant des plaines German: Fahlammer Spanish: Chingolo Pálido

Taxonomy: Emberiza pallida Swainson, 1832, Carlton House, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Apparently closely related to S. passerina and S. breweri. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds in W & S Canada from WC Mackenzie, E British Columbia, Alberta, NW & C Saskatchewan and Manitoba (local and irregular in N) E to S Ontario and extreme S Quebec (rarely E to Gaspé Peninsula), S in USA to S Wisconsin, Michigan and New York (perhaps rarely S to SE South Dakota, NW Iowa, Illinois and N Indiana); non-breeding in S USA (S New Mexico and S Texas) and Mexico (S to Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas), rarely Guatemala.