A New Chipping Sparrow from Central America
A New Chipping Sparrow from Central America
Study of a series of Chipping Sparrows obtained in El Salvador in 1927, shows that the birds from the Pacific slope are distinct not only from those of the Atlantic side, but from those of southern Mexico as well. This new race we name and characterize as follows.
Spizella passerine cicada, subsp. nov. Salvador Chipping Sparrow.
Type
Subspecific characters.-Of the comparatively large-billed mextiana-pinetorum series. Very much darker than Spizella passetina mexicana Nelson. In general, of the same relative darkness as Spizella passerina pinetorum Salvin, but gray of rump and hindneck slightly paler and with the conspicuous blackish nuchal markings of that form represented only by short broken streaks on lateral parts of hindneck; reddish crown cap slightly paler (“burnt sienna”’ instead of dark chestnut) and extending backwards onto occipital region and nape instead of being confined to pileum; gray of underparts slightly darker; back, scapulars and edging of wing feathers more richly colored than in any known form of Spizella passerina with comparatively broad rufous or “cinnamon-rufous” areas between the black shaft streaks and the paler edgings.
Range.-Pine regions along the Pacific slope of the Cordillera in El Salvador.
Remarks.-The new race marks the southern limit attained by the species, and furthermore constitutes an apparently isolated colony; for pinetorum is known only from the Atlantic slope of British Honduras, Guatemala and Honduras, and mezicana has not been detected south of north-central Guatemala.
At San Jose de1 Sacare, the only station where it was found, the species was common, and in certain favored pine woods areas the chirring of the males was one of the most frequent sounds during the hotter hours of the day.
Specimens examined.-Spizella passerina mexicana: Series from southern Mexico, including the type, in Biological Survey collection, U. S. National Museum. Spizella passerina pinetorum: British Honduras: Sittee River, 3; Manatee District, 1 (Bangs collection). Spizella pinetorum cicada: El Salvador: Los Esesmiles, 13.
Donald R. Dickey and A. J. Van Rossem
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, July 31, 1928
