Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Rufous-crowned SparrowRufous-crowned SparrowRufous-crowned SparrowRufous-crowned Sparrow

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Aimophila ruficeps

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
1 Verified records at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

Closest Relatives at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

Savannah Sparrow
LC Endemic

Savannah Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerculus sandwichensis

30–40% · Possible
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

20–30% · Possible
Green-tailed Towhee
LC

Green-tailed Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pipilo chlorurus

10–20% · With luck
Black-throated Sparrow
LC Endemic

Black-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amphispiza bilineata

5–10% · With luck
Brewer's Sparrow
LC

Brewer's Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella breweri

5–10% · With luck
Lincoln's Sparrow
LC

Lincoln's Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza lincolnii

5–10% · With luck
Lark Sparrow
LC

Lark Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chondestes grammacus

5–10% · With luck
Song Sparrow
LC Endemic

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

5–10% · With luck
Bell's Sparrow
LC

Bell's Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Artemisiospiza belli

5–10% · Rare
Clay-colored Sparrow
LC

Clay-colored Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella pallida

<5% · Rare
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

<5% · Rare
California Towhee
LC

California Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melozone crissalis

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Rufous-crowned Sparrow at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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
50–60%
2 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
3 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
4 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
5 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
6 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
10 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
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