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Peucaea mystacalis

Bridled Sparrow

  • Order: Passeriformes
  • Family: Emberizidae
  • Monotypic

Authors: Ramos-Ordoñez, M.F., C. Rodríguez-Flores, C. Soberanes-González, M.C. Arizmendi, and Thomas S. Schulenberg

Peucaea mystacalis

Oaxaca, Mexico; 22 August 2012 © Francesco Veronesi

Bridled Sparrow is a medium-sized, rufous-and-gray sparrow with bright white facial markings. This song, with a range restricted to a small region of southern Mexico, occurs in semiopen arid scrub, thickets, and in overgrown grassy clearings. Usually found in pairs or small groups, Bridled Sparrow spends most of its time on or near the ground, searching for seeds, arthropods, and even has been observed taking nectar from flowering trees. Very little is known about this species breeding biology. Despite its  limited range and small population of less than 50,000 individuals, Bridled Sparrow has not been placed on any threatened species lists.

Recommended Citation

Ramos-Ordoñez, M.F., C. Rodríguez-Flores, C. Soberanes-González, M.C. Arizmendi, and Thomas S. Schulenberg. 2012. Bridled Sparrow (Peucaea mystacalis), Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=651436

This map is based on the maps available from the NatureServe InfoNatura website. The data for these maps are provided by NatureServe in collaboration with Robert Ridgely, James Zook, The Nature Conservancy - Migratory Bird Program, Conservation International - CABS, World Wildlife Fund - US, and Environment Canada - WILDSPACE.

  • Migration/Movement:Resident (nonmigratory)
  • Primary Habitat:Arid montane scrub
  • Foraging Strata:Understory
  • Foraging Behavior:Scratch
  • Diet:Seeds
  • Sociality:Pairs/Family Groups
  • Mating System:Unknown
  • Nest Form:Cup
  • Clutch: - 3
  • IUCN Status:Least Concern