Ammodramus
Encyclopedia
The genus Ammodramus is a group of American sparrow
s in the family Emberizidae. Ammodramus is Latin for "Sand Runner." Typical of these thick grass and ground loving sparrows.
These birds are relatively small, with large bills, flat heads and short tails. They are usually found in grassland
s or marsh
es and are often fairly inconspicuous. Most of their songs are insect-like. Most species are found in eastern North America
, while the Grassland and Yellow-browed Sparrows are found in South America
Many of these bird species have declined in numbers due to habitat loss.
The full list of species is:
The fossil Ammodramus hatcheri (Late Miocene
of Kansas
, USA) was formerly placed in genus Palaeospiza or Palaeostruthus. The former may not be a passeriform at all, while the latter was eventually synonymized with Ammodramus as A. hatcheri scarcely differs from the living species.
American sparrow
American sparrows are a group of mainly New World passerine birds, forming part of the family Emberizidae. American sparrows are seed-eating birds with conical bills, brown or gray in color, and many species have distinctive head patterns....
s in the family Emberizidae. Ammodramus is Latin for "Sand Runner." Typical of these thick grass and ground loving sparrows.
These birds are relatively small, with large bills, flat heads and short tails. They are usually found in grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s or marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es and are often fairly inconspicuous. Most of their songs are insect-like. Most species are found in eastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, while the Grassland and Yellow-browed Sparrows are found in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
Many of these bird species have declined in numbers due to habitat loss.
The full list of species is:
- Seaside SparrowSeaside SparrowThe Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus, is a small American sparrow. The 11 Ammodramus species inhabit marshes and grasslands.Adults have brownish upperparts with grey on the crown and nape, and a grayish buff colored breast with dark streaks; they have a dark face with grey cheeks, a white...
, Ammodramus maritimus- Dusky Seaside SparrowDusky Seaside SparrowThe Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens, was a non-migratory subspecies of the Seaside Sparrow, found in Southern Florida in the natural salt marshes of Merritt Island and along the St. Johns River...
, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens (extinct, 1987) - Cape Sable Seaside SparrowCape Sable Seaside SparrowThe Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow is a sub-species of Seaside Sparrow endemic to southern Florida. The largest populations are found in Taylor Slough in Everglade National Park and in the Big Cypress Swamp...
, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis
- Dusky Seaside Sparrow
- Nelson's SparrowNelson's SparrowThe Nelson's Sparrow is a small sparrow. Adults have brownish upperparts with grey on the crown and nape, a cream-coloured breast with light or indistinct streaking and a white throat and belly; they have an orange face with grey cheeks and a short pointed tail.Their breeding habitat is marshes on...
, Ammodramus nelsoni - Saltmarsh SparrowSaltmarsh SparrowThe Saltmarsh Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus, is a small sparrow. At one time, this bird and the Nelson's Sparrow were thought to be a single species, the Sharp-tailed Sparrow...
, Ammodramus caudacutus - Le Conte's SparrowLe Conte's SparrowThe Le Conte’s Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii, is one of the smallest sparrow species in North America.It is a very secretive bird that prefers to spend most of its time on the ground under the cover of tall grasses. They are typically very difficult to flush, often only flushing at a distance of...
, Ammodramus leconteii - Henslow's SparrowHenslow's SparrowHenslow's Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii, is a small American sparrow.Adults have streaked brown upperparts with a light brown breast with streaks, a white belly and a white throat...
, Ammodramus henslowii - Baird's SparrowBaird's SparrowThe Baird's Sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii, is a small North American sparrow.-Overview:These birds have a large bill, a large flat head, and a short forked tail. They have brown upper parts and white underparts, with streaking on the back, breast, and flanks...
, Ammodramus bairdii - Grasshopper SparrowGrasshopper SparrowThe Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum, is a small sparrow. The Ammodramus genus of 11 species inhabit grasslands and marshes....
, Ammodramus savannarum - Grassland SparrowGrassland SparrowThe Grassland Sparrow is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela...
, Ammodramus humeralis - Yellow-browed SparrowYellow-browed SparrowThe Yellow-browed Sparrow is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, pastureland, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International...
, Ammodramus aurifrons
The fossil Ammodramus hatcheri (Late Miocene
Late Miocene
The Late Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch....
of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, USA) was formerly placed in genus Palaeospiza or Palaeostruthus. The former may not be a passeriform at all, while the latter was eventually synonymized with Ammodramus as A. hatcheri scarcely differs from the living species.