Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) - HBW 16, p. 554

French: Bruant de Le Conte German: Leconteammer Spanish: Chingolo de Le Conte

Taxonomy: Emberiza leconteii Audubon, 1844, prairies of upper Missouri River = Fort Union, North Dakota, USA.
Genus, as currently delimited, is probably polyphyletic. Molecular studies suggest that present species is in a clade with A. maritimus, A. nelsoni and A. caudacutus; has hybridized with A. nelsoni. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds in Canada from SC Mackenzie (in Northwest Territories), Peace R lowlands of NE British Columbia and throughout lowlands of Alberta E to C Manitoba, N & E Ontario and locally S Quebec, S in USA to NW Montana, N South Dakota, S Minnesota and N Michigan; non-breeding S USA from C Kansas, NW Arkansas, S Georgia and coastal South Carolina S to Gulf Coast (Texas E to W Florida).