About Arremonops rufivirgatus (Lawrence, 1851)
The olive sparrow, with the scientific name Arremonops rufivirgatus, is a species of American sparrow that belongs to the family Passerellidae. It is also known by other common names: green finch and Texas sparrow. Its distribution range covers Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and southern Texas in the United States, specifically including Val Verde, Atascosa, and Nueces counties. This bird measures 14 to 15.5 centimetres (5.5 to 6.1 inches) in length, and it is the only sparrow that has an olive back. It has a distinct brown eye stripe, a brown-striped crown, a buff-colored breast, some white feathers on the belly, and a conical beak. Adult males and females have similar appearance. Juvenile olive sparrows are more extensively buff-colored overall, and have streaking on the belly. The olive sparrow resembles the green-tailed towhee, but it is smaller in size and does not have a rusty cap. This species is non-migratory, and resides as a permanent resident in thickets, chaparral, and forest undergrowth, at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,800 meters (6,000 feet). Males produce unmusical chip notes that are similar to the songs of the swamp sparrow. The olive sparrow builds its large nest two to five feet above the ground, using straws, twigs, bark, leaves, and stems as nesting material. Females lay two to five eggs per breeding season, which runs from March to September. The eggs are white and have no spots.
