Birds
Black-Throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata · also called black-throated sparrows
Deep in a stretch of desert scrub where standing water might not exist for miles, a black-throated sparrow forages calmly through the heat of the day, drawing every drop of moisture it needs from nothing more than the seeds and insects already within reach.
Overview
The black-throated sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata, is a striking, boldly patterned sparrow native to arid desert scrub habitat across the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its remarkable ability to survive with minimal direct water intake makes it one of the more physiologically impressive desert-adapted songbirds in North America.
A sparrow that barely needs to drink
While most birds must stay within reach of water, the black-throated sparrow has adapted to draw nearly everything it needs from its food alone, letting it thrive in some of the driest desert habitat any songbird occupies without regularly seeking out standing water.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable desert scrub habitat throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Black-Throated Sparrow: common questions
How does the black-throated sparrow survive without much water?
A black-throated sparrow can survive extended periods in extreme desert heat with little or no direct water intake, obtaining most of the moisture it needs from the seeds and insects that make up its diet, an adaptation that lets it occupy genuinely dry desert habitat other birds might struggle to survive in.
Why is it called the black-throated sparrow?
The black-throated sparrow displays a striking solid black throat patch bordered by bold white facial stripes, a high-contrast pattern distinctive enough to give the species its common name and make it relatively easy to identify among other sparrows sharing similar desert habitat.
Does the black-throated sparrow's diet change through the year?
Yes, a black-throated sparrow shifts the proportion of its diet toward more insects during the breeding season, when the increased protein helps support egg-laying and the feeding of nestlings, before returning to a diet weighted more heavily toward seeds outside the breeding period.
Where does the black-throated sparrow live?
The black-throated sparrow is native to arid desert scrub habitat across the southwestern United States and Mexico, typically nesting low within a desert shrub or cactus for protection from heat and predators.