Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyPasserellidae (New World Sparrows)
- GenusAimophila (Thicket sparrows)
- SpeciesAimophila ruficeps (Rufous-crowned Sparrow)
The rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) is a small American sparrow. This passerine is primarily found across the Southwestern United States and much of the interior of Mexico, south to the transverse mountain range, and to the Pacific coast to the southwest of the transverse range. Its distribution is patchy, with populations often being isolated from each other. Twelve subspecies are generally recognized, though up to eighteen have been suggested. This bird has a brown back with darker streaks and gray underparts. The crown is rufous, and the face and supercilium are gray with a brown or rufous streak extending from each eye and a thick black malar streak. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-crowned Sparrow sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 1,590 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Big Bend National Park
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
Green-tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
Brewer's Sparrow
Spizella breweri
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
Lark Bunting
Calamospiza melanocorys
Clay-colored Sparrow
Spizella pallida
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Big Bend National Park?
About 36% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-crowned Sparrow sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 1,590 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Big Bend National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.