Photo: Jose Hugo Martínez Guerrero / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sierra Madre Sparrow
Xenospiza baileyi
Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 17.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
- Genus Xenospiza
- Species baileyi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sierra Madre Sparrow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Sierra Madre Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) belongs to the Passerellidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA c Mexico.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.4 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 70 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sierra Madre Sparrow?
The Sierra Madre Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 17.4 g.
Where does the Sierra Madre Sparrow live?
The Sierra Madre Sparrow is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA c Mexico, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Sierra Madre Sparrow belong to?
The Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sierra Madre Sparrow eat?
The Sierra Madre Sparrow is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sierra Madre Sparrow migrate?
The Sierra Madre Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sierra Madre Sparrow endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Sierra Madre Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Sierra Madre 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 Sierra Madre Sparrow's range?
The Sierra Madre Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 70 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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