Brewer's Sparrow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBrewer's Sparrow
Adult (breweri)
Dainty and slim, with a long, notched tail, short rounded wings, and a small, sharply conical bill. Adults are dusky gray-brown, with grayish underparts, a thin white eyering, and a streaked nape.
© David Hollie / Macaulay LibraryColorado, June 17, 2015Adult (Timberline)
The northern subspecies (“Timberline Sparrow”) breeds at high elevations in mountains of northwestern North America. Note darker upperparts and bill, with more contrast to the underparts and facial pattern.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryYukon Territory, June 05, 2014Adult (Brewer's)
Note relatively long tail, thin eyering, and subtle face pattern with stripe over eye with darker cheek patch.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryArizona, October 17, 2013Not all videos have sound
Juvenile (breweri)
Juveniles are dusky gray-brown overall with a pale eyebrow and a streaked belly.
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 23, 2016Adult (breweri)
Dainty sparrow with plain grayish underparts and throat. The crown is finely streaked and bordered by a pale eyebrow. Thin, white eyering is not always obvious.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 11, 2016Adult (breweri)
A somewhat drab and finely streaked sparrow. Note streaked crown and nape and thin white eyering.
© Alex Patia / Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 12, 2017Adult (breweri)
Found in the arid sagebrush steppe of interior western North America.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryTexas, November 25, 2012Similar SpeciesClay-colored Sparrow
Adult/immature
Clay-colored Sparrow tends to be brighter, buffier, and more contrastingly patterned than Brewer’s Sparrows. Tends to be found in a broader range of vegetation and tolerates areas with more trees than Brewer's Sparrows.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 30, 2011Similar SpeciesChipping Sparrow
Nonbreeding
Chipping Sparrows tend to show a stronger dark eyeline that goes all the way through the eye to meet the bill, and stronger wingbars than Brewer’s Sparrow, which look plain-faced with weak wingbars.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 15, 2007Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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