Birdsong field guide
Bell's Sparrow
Artemisiospiza belli
A secretive, ground-dwelling sparrow of the California chaparral and sage scrub, distinguished by its dark breast spot and habitually cocked tail.
What it sounds like
A high-pitched, jerky song of thin, metallic notes ending in a short trill; the common call is a sharp 'tink'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It was formerly considered the same species as the Sagebrush Sparrow until a taxonomic split in 2013.
- Known for its distinctive behavior of running across open ground between shrubs with its tail held at an upward angle.
- The species is largely non-migratory, remaining in its chaparral or coastal sage scrub territories year-round.
- Nests are typically well-concealed deep within dense vegetation, often less than three feet above the ground.
- Identification relies on a combination of its dark malar stripe, white submoustachial stripe, and single dark central breast spot.
Habitat
Arid shrublands, specifically coastal sage scrub, Mojave desert wash, and dense chamise chaparral.
Range
Cismontane California, San Clemente Island, and the western coast of Baja California.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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