Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Moss-backed Sparrow
Arremon dorbignii
Moss-backed Sparrow (Arremon dorbignii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Moss-backed Sparrow (Arremon dorbignii) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 26.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
- Genus Arremon
- Species dorbignii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26.1 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Moss-backed Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Moss-backed Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Moss-backed Sparrow (Arremon dorbignii) is a member of the Passerellidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Bolivia to nw Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 210,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Moss-backed Sparrow?
The Moss-backed Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 26.1 g.
Where does the Moss-backed Sparrow live?
The Moss-backed Sparrow is found across South America with a range covering SA c Bolivia to nw Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Moss-backed Sparrow belong to?
The Moss-backed Sparrow (Arremon dorbignii) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Moss-backed Sparrow eat?
The Moss-backed Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Moss-backed Sparrow migrate?
The Moss-backed Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Moss-backed Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Moss-backed Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Moss-backed Sparrow — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Moss-backed Sparrow's range?
The Moss-backed Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 210,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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