Botteri's sparrow

Botteri's sparrow
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Passerellidae
Genus:	Peucaea
Species:	P. botterii
Binomial name
Peucaea botterii (Sclater, PL, 1858)
Subspecies
Peucaea botterii arizonae Peucaea botterii botterii Peucaea botterii goldmani Peucaea botterii mexicana Peucaea botterii petenica Peucaea botterii spadiconigrescens Peucaea botterii texana Peucaea botterii vantynei Peucaea botterii vulcanica
Synonyms[2]
Aimophila botterii

Botteri's sparrow (Peucaea botterii) is a medium-sized sparrow.

This passerine bird is primarily found in Mexico, with a breeding range that extends into the southeastern tip of the U.S. state of Arizona, and a small non-migratory population in the Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas, which is threatened by loss of habitat.

It was not found in Arizona between the 1890s and the mid-20th century due to excessive grazing of livestock; now it is locally common in its Arizona range due to recovery of vegetation. Juvenile birds apparently need dense vegetation to hide in during fledging; the uncommon native sacaton grass Sporobolus wrightii is preferred, but stands of introduced non-native Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and Boer lovegrass (E. curvula var. conferta) are also successfully utilized, though at lower population densities.^[3]

The name of this species commemorates the ornithologist Matteo Botteri (1808–1877).