Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 16,343 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Black-throated Sparrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Black-throated Sparrow
The black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) is a small American sparrow primarily found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is sometimes referred to as the desert sparrow, due to its preferred habitat of arid desert hillsides and scrub. This name usually refers to the desert sparrow of Africa and Asia.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Black-throated Sparrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 5,533 | March | Nov–Aug |
| California | 4,897 | March | Dec–Jun |
| Texas | 3,356 | April | Nov–Sep |
| New Mexico | 1,287 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Nevada | 508 | April | Mar–Aug |
| Utah | 503 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 117 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon | 69 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 24 | May | May–Jun |
| Washington | 20 | June | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 15 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Sparrows)
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Black-throated Sparrow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from November to September.
Where is Black-throated Sparrow most often seen?
The most observations come from Arizona, California, Texas.