About Peucaea carpalis Coues, 1873
Peucaea carpalis (Coues, 1873), commonly known as the rufous-winged sparrow, has distinct visible characteristics. Its back is brown marked with darker streaks, its belly is pale gray, and both its wings and crown are rust-colored. This sparrow species has a conical bill with a yellow base and a long brown tail. This species is a year-round resident ranging from south-central Arizona and Guadalupe Canyon, New Mexico, southward to northern Sinaloa, Mexico. It inhabits desert grasslands that contain scattered mesquite or cholla. It can also be found in washes with sandy bottoms and vegetated slopes, brushy irrigation ditches, and creeks bordered by broad-leaved trees, mesquite, grasses, and forbs.
