Black-Chinned Sparrow
Spizella atrogularis
The Black-Chinned Sparrow breeds in mixed chaparral or sagebrush in the American southwest. Populations have decreased by over 60% since 1970. Overgrazing seems to be a major factor in their decline. Winters are spent in northern and central Mexico.
This shy and retiring bird can be difficult to find when feeding in the thick brush it loves, but come spring, the males rise to elevated perches and sing their bubbly songs. The notes are sharp, crisp whistles that accelerate in pace at the end of the song. Some have characterized the song as sounding like a bouncing ping pong ball.

Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: Spring is in the air for this bird at the Ramona Grasslands Preserve, Ramona, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:13 9:13 |
Location:
Ramona Grassland Preserve |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X4312-BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: Singing its unique "bouncing ping-pong ball" song at the Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:28 7:40 |
Location:
Vista Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: JCD0960.BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: A juvenile bird at the Vista Grande site. Images from the SDNHM study of the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto Mountains. Riverside County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:06:30 8:09 |
Location:
Vista Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD1986.BlackChinnedSparrow.Juvenile |
© 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: (Spizella atrogularis) These birds seem to have exploited the recovering post Cedar Fire burn areas from 2003. Boulder Creek Road. In the foothills of San Diego County, California USA 2008-05-09. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:09 8:36 |
Location:
Boulder Creek Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD5095BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: (Spizella atrogularis) These birds seem to have exploited the recovering post Cedar Fire burn areas from 2003. Boulder Creek Road. In the foothills of San Diego County, California USA 2008-05-09. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:09 8:36 |
Location:
Boulder Creek Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD5105BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: (Spizella atrogularis) These birds seem to have exploited the recovering post Cedar Fire burn areas from 2003. Boulder Creek Road. In the foothills of San Diego County, California USA 2008-05-09. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:09 8:36 |
Location:
Boulder Creek Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD5112BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: (Spizella atrogularis) A bird found along Boulder Creek Road. In the foothills of San Diego County, California USA 2008-05-09. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:09 8:40 |
Location:
Boulder Creek Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD5136BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: (Spizella atrogularis) These birds seem to have exploited the recovering post Cedar Fire burn areas from 2003. Boulder Creek Road. In the foothills of San Diego County, California USA 2008-05-09. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:09 8:41 |
Location:
Boulder Creek Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD5140BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: (Spizella atrogularis) These birds seem to have exploited the recovering post Cedar Fire burn areas from 2003. Boulder Creek Road. In the foothills of San Diego County, California USA 2008-05-09. |
Date Taken: 2008:05:09 8:41 |
Location:
Boulder Creek Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD5142BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Chinned Sparrow(Spizella atrogularis) |
Description: East Grade Road on Palomar Mountain. Northern San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:29 10:53 |
Location:
East Grade |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X8590-BlackChinnedSparrow |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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