About Ammodramus aurifrons (Spix, 1825)
The yellow-browed sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons (Spix, 1825)) is a small American sparrow that measures 13 cm (5 in) in length, and weighs between 14.5 and 19 g (0.5 and 0.7 oz). Males and females have similar plumage, though males average very slightly larger than females. Adult yellow-browed sparrows have brownish gray upperparts, with dusky streaks on the back. Their underparts are whitish, turning grayish on the chest and buff on the flanks. They have pinkish-brown legs, a horn-colored beak with a darker culmen, and a reddish brown iris. Juvenile yellow-browed sparrows have no yellow on their face or wings, are buffier than adults, and have thin brownish streaks on their breast and flanks. While the species was formerly found largely in habitats along rivers and on islands, the yellow-browed sparrow is now widespread across grassy areas of the Amazon biome, including agricultural fields, roadsides, and areas around towns. It generally occurs in lowlands, though it has been recorded up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) on the east side of the Andes, is found regularly as high as 1,500 m (4,921 ft) in Ecuador, and sometimes occurs as high as 2,000 m (6,562 ft) there. Like most American sparrows, the yellow-browed sparrow is largely granivorous, feeding on seeds from native grasses and various introduced plants. It also eats insects, including their larvae, and typically feeds on the ground.
